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6OOO910ieW 


► 


j  lO  '      e  .     /<o  , 


COLLECTIONS, 

ILLUSTBATING  THE 
IN  THB  COUNTIKS  OF 

CORNWALL,    DEVON,   DORSET,   SOMERSET,  WILTS, 
AND  GLOUCESTER. 


IN    TWO    PABTS, 
HISTORICAL    AND    BIOGRAPHICAL. 

WITH  NOTICB8  OV  THB 

$0mmitan,  §m)Mtthu,  H  itrnditm  iBxtim  is  ^ngM. 

BT  THE 

Vbkt  Bbv.  GEORGE  OLIVER,  D.D. 

CANOa  or  THB  DIOOKBS  OF  PLTMODTR. 


LONDON:  "Cj: 

CHAELE8   DOLMAN.  61,  NEW   BOND   STEEET; 

AND   93,    PATERNOSTBR   ROW. 
1857. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OV  VHB  STATE  OF  CATHOLICITY  IN  DBYON- 
8UIRB  AND  CORNWALL  VBOM  THE  REFORMATION  (sO  CALLED) 
UNTIL  TOE   RELAXATION  OF  THE   PENAL  LAWS     Poge  1 

CHAPTER  II. 

SOME     NOTICES    OF    CATHOLIC     FAMILIES     IN     DEVONSHIRE     AND 

CORNWALL 16 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE  ACTUAL  STATE  OF  RELIGION  IN  DEVONSHIRE  AND  CORNWALL        24 

CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  SUFFERERS   FOR  THE   FAITH   IN   D0R8ETSHIBX 35 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  ACTUAL   STATE  OF   RELIGION   IN   DORSETSHlEB     40 

CHAPTER  VI. 

SOME     ACCOUNT     OF     THE     PRINCIPAL     CATHOLIC     FAMILIES     IN 

DORSETSHIRE     46 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  MISSIONS  OF  SOMERSETSHIRE    65 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

SOME  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN   SOMBRSBTSHTRE 68 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  MISSIONS   IN   WILTSHIRE     ....^ 72 

CHAPTER  X. 

AN   ACCOUNT   OF   THE  CATHOLIC   FAMlLlEb   IN   WILTi>UIRE 75 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAFfER  XI. 

THB   SUFFERERS    FOR   THE    FAITH    IN    GLOUCKBTBRSHIRE     ...   Pltge  101 

CHAPTER  XII. 

REVIEW   OF  THB   MISSIONS  IE   OLOUCESTBRSIIIRE 108 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

CATHOLIC  FAMILIES   IN    QLOUCBSTBRSHXRE 124 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

HISTORICAL  REPORT  OF  ALL  THE  EELIOIOUS  ESTABLISHMENTS 
IN  THESE  SIX  WESTERN  COUNTIES  SINCE  THB  FRENCH  REVO- 
LUTION          129 

CHAPTER  XV. 

REPORT   TO   GOVERNMENT  OF   THB  CATHOLIC   PROPERTY,  IN  1716 

AND   1718^  IN    THESB   SIX   WESTERN    COUNTIES 169 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

TABLES  OF  SUCCESSION  OF   THE   INCUMBENTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL 

MISSIONS   IN  THE  COUNTIES   AFORESAID 177 

APPENDIX 197 


PART    II. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THB  CLERGT  IN  THE  COUNTIES  OF  CORN- 
WALL, DEVONSHIRE,  DORSETSHIRE,  SOMERSETSHIRE,  WILT- 
SHIRE, AND  GLOUCESTERSHIRE,  FROM  THE  PERIOD  OF  THE 
REFORMATION   UNTIL   THE  PRBSENT  TEAR  1856  225 


COLLECTIONS  ILLUSTRATIVE  OF  THE  DOMINICAN,  BENE- 
DICTINE, AND  FRANCISOAN  ORDERS  IN  ENGLAND. 

A  HANDFUL  OF  GLEANINGS  RESPECTING  THE  ENGLISH  DOMINICAN 

PROVINCE  447 

COLLECTIONS     ILLUSTRATING     THE     HISTORY    OF     THE     ENGLISH 

BENEDICTINE  CONGREGATION      472 

BRIEF  NOTICES  OF  SOME  WRITERS  OF  THE  ENGLISH   FRANCISCAN 

PROVINCE   SINCE   THE   ERA   OF   THE   REFORMATION    538 


INDEX. 


PAGB 

Adstdck    73 

Aliieldy  Rev.  Thomas,  mar- 
tyred at  Tybnm  103 

ArundelL  of  Lanherne,  family 
of 16 

>  » of  Wardour,  family 
of 75 

Axminster    26 

Bastard,   £dmund,  R.  P.,  of 

Kitley,  Esq 28 

Bath 65 

Beckford   , 115 

Berkley,  of  Beverston 127 

Bodmin 32 

Bonham    60 

Bristol  108 

Bridgewater 65 

Bridport    45 

Bullaker,  Thomas,  O.S.F.  mar- 
tyred at  Tyburn 11 

Calyerleigh  27 

Camborne 32 

Cannington  60 

Gary,  family  of    20 

Castlehaven  (Touchet),  family 

of   68 

Cheltenham 119 

Chichester,  of  Arlington,  &mily 

of   19 

Chidiock  Castle   37 

Chapel 41 

Chippine  Sodbury  120 

Chippenham 74 

Cirencester 122 

Clifford,  family  of  22 

Coffin,    Mr.     Hamphrey,    of 

Wambrook  39,53 

Cornelias,  F.  John,  S.  J.,  mar- 
tyred at  Dorchester 37 

Cottington,  family  of 70 

Courtenay,  family  of 17 

Dowdall,  James,  executed  at 
Exeter,  for  denying  the  royal 
supremacy    2 


PAOB 

Downside ^ 62 

■  relics  there 71 

Exeter  ! 25 

— ,  chapel  there  levelled  to  • 
the  ground  at  the  Revolu- 
tion   14 

Falmouth 30 

FoUaton    27 

Frome   66 

Gloucester 117 

Godolphin,  family  of 21 

Green,  Rev.  Hugh,  martyred 
at  Dorchester   ^ 39 

Hall,  family  of 125 

Hartpury 117 

Hatherop  117 

Havman,  Father,  S. J 33 

Holford,  Rev.  Thomas,  mar- 
tyred at  Clerkenwell  103 

Horton  115 

Hunter,  John  10 

Hussey,  family  of   53 

Jessop,  Mr.  John 36 

Kemerton 120 

Laithwaite,  Thomas,  S. J 4 

Lampley,   William,  martyred 

at  Gloucester    103 

Lanheme  29 

Leigh,    William,    of     Wood- 

chester.  Esq 121,127 

Leighland 62 

Lingard,  Mrs 33 

Loughnan,  family  of  15 

Lullworth 40 

Lyme 44 

Mamhull  41 

Mayne,  Cuthbert,  martyred  at 

Launceston 2 

Midford  Castle 65 

Nympsfield  122 


VUl 


INBEX. 


,%  -  PAGE 

Paston,  family  of 125 

Penzance  31 

Petre,  family  of  [,„  197 

Pilchard,  Rev.  Thomas,  mar- 
tyred at  Dorchester 36 

Plymouth 26 

Pollen,  John  Hungerford,  Esq!    74 

Poole 42 

Prior  Park    , .'    62 

Pybush,  Rev.  John,  martyred 
at  London 105 

Reeve,  alia$  Payne,  John,  mai^ 

-^  tyred  at  Chelmsford    3 

Kisdon,  of  Bableigh,  family  of     20 
Rowe,  John,  of  Kingston,  high 

sheriff  of  Devon  in  1687 14 

Rowsham,  Rev.  Stephen,  mar- 

t>Ted  at  Gloucester 103 

Salisbury 73 

Sandys,  Rev.  John,  martyred 

at  Gloucester    loi 

Shepton  Mallett  60 

Shortwood    , , 61 

Spetisbunr    *'    42 

Stanley,  Sir  William,  of  Hooton    15 

Stapemll  41 

Stocker,  family  of  71 

Stourton,  family  of 92 

Stroud   123 


Sweet,  John,  S.J 6 

Talbot,  Hon.  and  Rev.  James  15 

Taunton    61 

Tawstock 27 

Teignmouth "  29 

Tiverton    27 

Tor  Abbey    24 

Tregian,  Sir  Francis  .[  9 

Trelawny,  Sir  Henry 32 

Tremayne,  Richard 9 

Trinder,  family  of  127 

Ugbrooke 25 

Wakeman,  family  of 124 

Wakeman,  Sir  George,  Bart., 

tried  during  the  Gates  plot  105 

Wald^grave,  family  of  69 

Wardour  73 

Webb,  family  of 52 

Webb,  Rev.  James 15 

Weld,  family  of  47 

Weston-super-Mare    66 

Weymouth  42 

Woodchester 121 

Woodbury,     prisoners     mas- 
sacred there  in  1549    1 

Wrey,  Sir  Bourchier  28 

Yealmpton    28 


CORRIGENDA. 


Page    5,  line   8,  for 
14,  line  22,  far 


'Kele"  read 
Morris"  read 


Hele." 
Norria." 


.    6^    »    IS,  for  "Pyhouae"  read  "IVthouse." 
,    75,    „      7  of  note  *  ineert  a  comnm  after  "heiress." 
114,    „    16,  for  "Montier"  read  "Moutier." 
160,    „     5  from  bottom,  for  "Beaureaund"  read  «  Beauregard." 
188,    „    18,  for  "Ninton"  read  "Hinton." 
.  185,    „    26.  for  "Hatton"  read  "Haldon." 
211,    „     9  from  bottom,  for  "Carpenter"  read  "Carpne." 
255,  note  f  D.  Hasenbeth  was  never  missionary  of  St.  Augustine's, 
Canterbury,  but  of  St.  Walstan'a,  Coasey.     A  period 
should  follow  Xavier. 
888,  line    7,  for  "Stonyhurst"  read  "Stonehouse." 
848,    „   83, /or  "dedannUs**  read  "deolarantes"  without  a  stop. 
— ,   „     6  from  bottom,  for  '*  Culler"  read  "  CuUon." 
888,   „     5  from  bottom,  for  "vioereflal"  read  "▼ioarial." 
892,    „     8,  and  in  the  epitaph,  for  "  Westman  "  read  "  Weetman." 
576,  lines  8  and  7,  for  "  eight "  read  "  nme."  The  ninth  is  F,  Tkonuu 
BMdber. 


m 


« 


HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS, 

CHAPTER  I. 
*^  Oraia  Deopieiaiy  kaminuM  memmiise  honorum,*' 

HtSTOBICAL  SKBTCH  OF  THB  STATB  OF  CATHOLICITY  IN  DBTOXSfllRE 
AND  CORNWALL  FROX  TBB  BBFORMATION  (sO  CALLED)  UNTIL  THB 
BBLAXATION  OP  THB  PBNAIi  LAWS. 

The  state  of  the  Catholic  religion  in  these  two  counties  of 
Devon  and  Cornwall,  alias  the  diocese  of  Exeter,  conveys  a 
melttBcholy  proof  of  the  instability  of  the  human  mind.  No 
portion  of  the  English  realm  could  be  more  devoted  to  the 
ancient  fiiith ;  and  the  formidable  insurrections  which  blazed 
forth  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  VI.  demonstrate  the 
hostility  of  the  population  to  the  innovations  in  religion 
which  the  State  was  forcing  upon  them.  But  the  savage 
and  brutal  massacre  of  all  the  prisoners  at  Woodbury,  as 
ordered  by  John  Lord  Russell  in  1549, — ''the  putting  of  the 
whole  country  "  (in  the  words  of  Hoker,  an  eye-witness)  ''to 
the  SDoil,  where  every  soldier  sought  for  his  best  profit,'' — 
the  oloody  laws  enacted  shortly  after  against  the  very 
profession  of  the  religion  of  their  forefathers,  and  which 
were  strictly  enforced  against  individuals  of  influence  and 
property, — ^the  intermarriages  of  Catholics  and  Protestants 
under  such  circumstances,  reminding  us  of  the  text,  "  Com- 
^toixti  sunt  inter  gentes,  et  didicerunt  opera  ejus,  et  servie- 
runt  sculptilibus  eorum,  et  factum  est  illis  in  scandalum '' 
^s.  cv.) ;  according  to  the  Anglican  version,  "  They  were 
mingled  among  the  heathen,  and  learned  their  works,  and 
they  served  their  idols,  which  were  a  snare  unto  them'' 
(Psalm  cv.-cvi.  35), — and  last,  not  least,  the  doctrines  of  the 
Reformation,  so  very  accommodating  to  the  feelings  of  flesh 
and  blood,  and  so  flattering  to  the  pride  of  the  human 
heart, — all  these  causes  and  motives  concurred  to  terrify 
some  and  decoy  others  into  the  gradual  indilBference  and 


• 


2  STATE   OF   CATHOLICITY 

Abandonment  of  thdr  religioas  principles.  Still  it  is  some 
consolation  to  know  that  neither  county  was  stained  with 
the  effusion  of  much  human  blood  in  virtue  of  the  penal 
statutes.  The  first  victim  was  that  proto-martyr  of  Donay 
College,  the  Bev.  Cuthberi  Mayne,  who  was  taken  at  Gk)lden, 
the  seat  of  Sir  Francis  Tregian,  Knight,  in  Probns  parish, 
Cornwall,  about  8th  June,  1577,  and  hanged,  drawn,  and 
quartered  at  Launceston,  on  29th  November  of  that  year.  The 
account  of  his  martyrdom  was  sent  to  F.  Edmund  Campion, 
then  at  Prague,  by  the  famous  Dr.  Gregory  Martin.  The 
former,  in  his  reply,  on  17th  July,  1679,  thus  speaks  of  his 
former  pupil :  "  Valde  te  amo  de  martyrio  Cutberti,  vel 
junamus  potius;  multis  enim  ilia  narratio  divinam  attulit 
voluptatem.  Me  miserum,  quem  ille  novitius  tam  long^  a 
tergo  reliquerit  I !  Sit  propitius  amico  veteri  et  prseceptori : 
horum  enim  nominum  glenoid  perfruar  nunc  ambitiosius 
quam  antea.''  For  the  ideal  offence  of  being  a  Catholic 
priest  found  in  England,  F.  Mayne  suffers  the  death  of  a 
traitor  !  and  his  patron.  Sir  Francis  Tregian,  for  harbouring 
a  minister  of  the  religion  in  which  he  had  been  bred, — ^the 
religion  of  his  ancestors, — ^the  religion  of  Queen  Elizabeih 
herself  btU  twenty-one  years  before, — by  a  sentence  of 
prsemunire  is  stripped  of  all  his  property,  and  condemned  to 
perpetual  imprisonment  I  *  Well  may  Davies  Gilbert,  in  his 
'^  Parochial  History  of  Cornwall,"  vol.  iii.  p.  370,  ezclum, — 

**01i!  dearest  God,  forfend 
Such  timed  should  e'er  return.'' 

The  skull  of  this  blessed  martyr  is  religiously  kept  at 
Lanheme.f 

The  only  victim  I  have  met  with  in  Devonshire  was  Mr. 
James  Doudal,  an  Irish  merchant,  and  a  native  of  Wexford. 
For  denying  the  queen's  spiritual  supremacy,  he  was  thrown 
into  Exeter  jail.  When  I  examined  the  calendars  of  the 
prisoners  in  September,  1824,  I  found  this  minute  at  the 
autumn  assizes  of  1598: — '^  Jacobus  Dowdall  remanet  in 
gaola  per  mandatum  Concilii  Privati.''  At  the  following 
Lent  assizes  he  is  thus  noticed : — "  Jacobus  Dowdall  remanet 
quia  judicandus  pro  proditione/'     At  the  autumn  assizes  »> 

*  When  he  heard  his  sentence,  he  exclaimed,  **  Pereant  bona,  qus 
ri  non  periiasent,  fortassis  dominum  sunm  perdidissent."  —  Com.  a 
Lapide,  Bel.  x. 

t  Strype,  Annals,  vol.  ii.,  says  that  Richard  Tremayne,  gent., 
aged  30;  Thomas  Harrys,  a  schoolmaster,  aged  45;  John  Kemp, 
gent.,  40;  John  Williams,  A.M.,  35,  all  of  Cornwall,  were  also  com- 
xnitted  to  jail  in  1570,  wiUi  Henry  Benfeld,  gent.,  40,  and  John  Hody. 


IN   BKYONSHIRB   AND  CORNWALL.  3 

"  Jacobus  Dowdall  suspendatar^  &c.,  pro  proditione.*^  His. 
execution  took  place  on  13th  August^  1598,  according  to 
John  Mullan^s  ''Idea  Togatse  Constantiae/'  an  octavo 
▼olume  printed  at  Paris  in  1629. 

In  the  Life  of  F.  Charles  Spinola  (printed  at  Antwerp, 
12mo.,  1630),  who  was  burnt  for  the  faith  in  Japan, 
2nd  September,  1622,  is  an  interesting  letter  which  he 
addressed  to  F.  Claudius  Aquaviva,  fifth  general  of  S.J.,  in 
which  he  relates  his  capture  at  sea  by  an  English  vessel,  and 
his  being  brought  into  Atapson,  or  Topsham,  6th  November, 
1597.  There  he  continued  for  several  days;  but  was  not 
permitted  to  extend  his  excursions  beyond  one  mile  from 
the  place.  Some,  professing  themselves  Catholics,  presented 
him  with  money ;  others  invited  him  to  their  houses.  Seve- 
ral ladies  of  the  first  quality  remained  steadfast  in  the  old 
faith,  and  many  of  the  gentry  continued  their  inward 
attachment  to  Catholic  doctrines,  but  durst  not  avow  their 
real  sentiments;  and  not  a  few,  he  observes,  succeeded  in 
purchasing  letters  of  dispensation  from  attending  the  Pro- 
testant worship. 

'The  fiuthful  Dr.  Challoner,  in  his  narrative  of  the  Bev.  John 
Reeve,  alias  Paine,  who,  after  being  cruelly  tortured  in  the 
Tower  (see  Bishton's  Diary),  suffered  for  the  faith  at 
Chelmsford,  in  Essex,  on  2nd  April,  1582,  was  unacquainted 
with  the  following  antecedents  of  his  biography.  He  was  a 
Master  of  Arts  at  Oxford,  and  a  Marian  priest,  and  was 
instituted  by  Dr.  James  Turbervillc,  the  last  Catholic  bishop 
of  Exeter,  on  15th  July,  1558,  to  the  vicarage  of  Altemon,  in 
Cornwall,  void  by  the  death  of  Lawrence  Blackley,  on  the 
presentation  of  the  Exeter  dean  and  chapter.  After  the 
exclusion  of  Bishop  Turberville  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  the 
substitution  of  Dr.  William  Alley  in  his  see,  the  Bev.  John 
Paine  was  deprived  of  his  vicarage  of  Altemon,  and  on 
23rd  April,  1563,  Edward  Biley,  S.T.P.,  was  collated  to  it. 
These  &cts  I  glean  from  the  episcopal,  registers.  The 
gected  vicar  retired  to  the  continent,  and  after  a  residence 
at  Pouay  for  some  time,  was  sent  to  the  English  mission, 
and  became  chaplain  to  Lady  Petre,  in  Essex,  whose  family  * 
bad  considerable  property  in  the  diocese  of  Exeter.  Pro- 
bably his  zeal  for  souls  might  have  induced  him  to  come 
down  to  visit  his  former  fnends  in  these  parts,  where  he 
was  apprehended.  I  subjoin  from  the  Act-Book  of  John 
Woolton,  then  Protestant  bishop  of  Exeter,  the  following 
" Certificate  against  John  Reeve,  alias  Payne,  a  recusant** 

•  ♦See  Appendix  No.  I. 

B  2 


4  STATE   OF  CATHOLTCITT 

''Bxcellentissime  et  iUttatriasiine  in  Xto  Principi  Eliza- 
bethe,  Dei  graci&  Anglie^  Francie,  et  Hibemie  Regine, 
Fidel  Defensori,  &c.  Yester  humilis  et  devotus  Johannes^ 
permissione  divinA  Exon  Episoopus^  reverenciam  et  obedi- 
enciam  ac  salutem  in  Eo^  per  quern  reges  regnant  et  principes 
dominantur.  Coram  vobia  in  corift  yestrft  yocatft  '  The 
King's  Benche '  certificamuB^  quod  nos  Johannes  episcopus 
antedictus,  xxiv^  die  mensis  Martii,  anno  regni  yestri  xxii. 
"(1580),  in  domo  mansionali  mei  dicti  episcopi,  Anglice 
yocatd  ^The  BUhopp  of  Excetter  his  Pallace/  infra  clau- 
sum  ciyitatis  Exon  scituatA,  yigore  et  auctoritate  cujusdam 
ActAs  Parliamenti  ad  Parliamentum  tentum  apud  Westmo- 
nasterium  in  com.  Middlesex^  xii""  die  Januarii,  anno  regni 
yestri  quinto  editi  et  proyisi,  intitulati,  '  An  Act  far  the 
Assurance  of  the  Queenes  Majesties  royall  Power  over  all 
Estates  and  Subjects  within  her  Highnes  Dominions/  obtu- 
limus  et  ministrayimus  Johanni  Reve,  alias  Payne,  clerieo, 
olim  alme  Uniyersitatis  Oxon  Artium  Magistro^  persone 
ecclesiastice  in  sacris  ordinibus  constitute^  tunc  et  ibidem 
coram  nobis  personaliter  comparenti^  et  infra  nostram  dioce- 
sim  adtunc  et  ibidem  existenti^  proposito  et  aperte^  coram 
eodem  Johanne  Reve,  alias  Payne,  libro  continente  sacrosancta 
Dei  eyangelia^  sacramentam  expresse  appunctuatum  et  con- 
tentum  in  et  per  Actum  Parliamenti  anno  regni  yestri 
primo  editum,  et  intitulatum,  'An  Acte  restoringe  to  the 
Crowne  the  auncient  Jurisdiction  over  the  State  EccksiasticaU 
and  Spiritual!,  and  abollishing  all  forraine  Power  repugnant 
to  the  same :'  antedictus  tamen  Johannes  Reve,  alias  Payne, 
sacramentum  predictum  modo,  formft^  tempore  et  loco  pre- 
dictis  sic  per  nos,  ut  prefertur,  eidem  Johanni  oblatum  et 
ministratum  tunc  et  ibidem^  recipere^  prestare  aut  pronun- 
tiare  peremptory  et  obstinati  tunc  et  ibidem  recusavit,  contra 
formam  et  effectum  statuti  predicti  in  hujusmodi  casu  editi 
et  proyisi.  In  quorum  omnium  et  singulorum  premissorum 
fidem  et  testimonium  hiis  litteris  nostris  certificatoriis  sigil- 
lum  nostrum  episcopale  apponi  fecimus.  Datum  in  palatio 
nostro  Exon^  xix.  die  Aprilis,  anno  Dni  1581^  et  ng^tre 
oonsecrationis  anno  secundo/'  ^ 

In  the  9th  book  of  F.  Hertry  More's  History  of  the 
English  Proy.  of  S.  J.^  we  read  that  the  Rey.  Thomas  Laiih- 
waite,  who  passed  by  the  name  of  Scott,  after  completing 
his  higher  studies   at  Seyille^  and  receiying  holy  orders^ 

•  In  his  Act-Book,  3rd  September,  1693,  he  acknowledgee  the  receipt 
of  the  order  of  the  Privy  Council  of  26th  August  to  make  diligent 
inquiry  of  all  wiyes,  servants,  and  others,  recusants  in  his  diocese. 
Obiit  13  Martii  proximo  sequentis. 


IN   DEV0N8HIRB   AND   CORNWALL.  6 

embarked  at  St.  Lacar  for  England.  Landing  at  Plymouth^ 
he  was  apprehended  there  on  suspicion  of  being  a  priest,  and 
carried  before  Sir  Warwick  Kele,  Knight,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  who  tendered  to  him  the  oath  of  supremacy.  On  his 
refusal  to  take  it,  he  was  rigorously  searched  to  the  very 
skin:  some  Agnus'  Dei  and  memorandums,  and  a  sum  of 
twenty  marks  were  found  about  his  person.  The  money 
Sir  Warwick  ordered  to  be  restored  to  him,  and  took  his 
prisoner  to  his  country  house  at  Wembury.  For  two  days 
he  was  treated  with  humanity ;  but  finding  that  he  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  attend  the  Protestant  church.  Sir  Warwick 
made  out  his  commitment  to  the  county  jail  of  Exeter, — a 
notorious  sink  of  vice,  and  misery,  and  pestilence.  At  the 
expiration  of  three  months,  the  assizes  came  on,  and  the 
Rev.  Father  was  sentenced  to  death,  on  the  evidence  of  a 
man  who  swore  that  he  had  seen  him  celebrate  mass  at 
St.  Lucar.  A  younger  brother,  Edward,  a  bigoted  Protestant, 
on  hearing  of  his  imprisonment  and  condemnation,  hastened 
down  from  Lancashire  to  convert  him:  the  authorities 
aUowed  him  free  access  for  the  purpose ;  but  at  the  end  of 
eight  days'  discussion  he  himself  admitted  the  truth  of  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  was  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  God  at 
Christmas,  1604.  In  the  sequel  he  entered  into  the  ecclesi- 
astical state,  and  after  labouring  in  the  Devonshire  mission 
with  indefatigable  zeal,  died  S^th  June,  1643,  aged  sixty. 
As  for  T^hamas,  after  six  months'  imprisonment,  his  sentence 
of  death  was  commuted  for  exile ;  but  he  contrived  to  return 
to  England  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  died  quietly  in 
his  native  country  on  10th  June,  1655,  aged  75. 

In  Walter  Yonge's  Diary,*  from  1604  to  1628,  and  in 
page  83,  we  read  "  that  in  June,  1625,  a  priest,  being  taken  at 
Mass  in  Mr.  GifTord's  house,  near  Southgate,  in  Exon,  was 
committed  to  prison,  and  very  shortly  after  (upon  special 
command)  delivered.'' 

The  discovery  of  another  priest,  F.  John  Sweet,  on  14th 
November,  1621,  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Alexander  Snelgrove, 
of  St,  Lawrence's  pariah,  Exeter  (who  had  married  Alice 
Risdon  in  May,  1606,  as  the  parish  register  testifies),  had 
excited  much  more  the  public  attention.  F.  Sweet  was  a 
native  of  Devon,  and  a  Jesuit.  After  supplying  for  some 
time  as  penitentiary  at  Rome,  he  was  ordered  to  the  English 
mission,  where,  according  to  F.  Nathaniel  Southwell  (Bibli- 
otheca  Scriptorum  S.J.,  p.  507),  '^utilis  evasit  operarius,  et 
mnltomm  in  Christo  fihorum  parens."     He  had  reached 

*  Pabliahed  by  the  Camden  Society. 


6  8TATB   OF  CATHOLICITY 

Exeter  on  one  of  his  joumevs  towards  Bableigh^  in  the 
north  of  Devon^  passing  by  tne  name  of  Doux.  From  the 
origuial  letters  in  the  archives  of  the  Mayor  and  Chamber^ 
I  copy  ''  the  list  of  the  things  that  were  found  in  the  priest's 
pocket  and  bag : '' — 

^H.  In  his  pocket  one  Masse  booke,  intituled  *  Ex  Missali  Romano 
Ordo  Missfls.* 

**  2.  One  letter  from  John  Risdon  unto  Mr.  Dowes,  mencyonyng  the 
sending  of  his  bagg  unto  hitn,  wherein  the  supersticious  and  Massing 
trinckets  weare. 

**  S,  One  note  of  some  oontribuclons  from  certayne  persons. 

**  4.  Six  other  smale  papers. 

^'6.  One  redde  boxe  with  certayne  wafer  cakes  herein  of  diverse 
impressions  &  figures  ;  som  round,  som  square. 

''  Found  in  the  said  Dowes  his  chamber  in  Alexander 
Snelgrove's  house : — 

^*l.  A  leather  Bag^  before  mencyoned,  wherein  we  found  one  little 
Manuscript  of  Questions  and  Answeares  ooncemynge  the  Protestant 
Religion. 

**  2.  One  Booke  of  *  The  Author  and  Substance  of  the  Protestant 
Church/ 

«  3.  One  Lattyn  Bible. 

**4t.  One  other  booke  with  a  black  fforrell,  intituled  'Breviarium 
Romanum  ex  decreto  Sacrosanct!  Consilii  Tridentini  restitutum,'  with 
two  pictures  in  the  same  booke,  the  one  of  the  Cyrconcysion  of  Criste, 
the  other  of  Crist  crucifyed. 

**  6,  One  other  little  booke,  intituled  *  The  Love  of  the  Soule.' 

**  6.  One  challys  of  silver  parcell  guilte,  and  a  crucyfixe  on  the  foote 
thereof,  with  a  little  plate  of  silver  parcell  guilt  to  carry  the  wafer 
cake. 

**  7.  One  white  boxe  of  bone  to  keen  a  picture  in. 

**  8.  One  red  purse  of  cloth  of  gould,  and  herein  a  Casket  with  3  little 
boxes  of  Oyle  herein." 

The  Mayor  of  Exeter^  Walter  Boroughs^  lost  no  time  in 
sending  an  official  report  of  the  capture  to  the  Privy  Councilj 
through  John  Prowse^  the  M.P.  for  that  city,  then  in  London, 
who  wrote  back,  on  the  24th  November,  1621 :  "  I  did  no 
sooner  receyve  your  letters  by  Mr.  Recorder's  man,  but  I 
presently  delyvered  that  which  you  sent  to  the  Lords  of  the 
Counsell,  to  Mr.  Secretary,  understanding  before  by  Sir 
Clement  Edmonds,  that  the  Lords  would  not  sit  to-morrow. 
His  Honour  promised  me  to  make  the  Lords  acquainted 
therewith;  and  I  shall  attend  him  for  their  resolution,  wish- 
ing that  you  had  not  omitted  in  that  letter  the  speech  of 
Risdon  reported  by  his  boye,  which  would  have  been  won- 
drous materiall.  But,  as  I  shall  find  opportunitie,  I  will 
lu-ge  the  same,  and  so  will  acquaint  you  what  success  your 
good  service  shall  recgy  ve.'' 

On  the  last  day  of  November,  Mr.  Prowse  wrote  to  the 


IN   DEVONBHIBB   AND   COBNWALL.  7 

Mayor:  ^'The  Lords  did  yesterdaie  read  yonr  letter  con- 
cerning Sweete^  who  (as  Mr.  Secretary  tells  me)  have  ordered 
2  pnrsivants  to  ride  to  Exeter  and  to  reoeyre  him  from  your 
cnstodie  to  be  brought  up  hyther^  together  with  a  letter  from 
them  to  that  purpose.  It  maie  be  that  theise  pursyvants 
will  be  with  you  before  theise  lines :  but,  howsoever,  I  could 
not  forgett  myselfe  so  much  as  not  to  advertise  you  of  my 
care  in  this  busynesse/' 

The  copy  of  the  Lords'  warrant  to  John  Poulter  and 
Leonard  Joyner,  two  of  the  messengers  of  his  Majesty^s 
chamber,  runs  thus : — 

**  Thds  shalbe  to  will  and  require  you  to  make  y'  ymediate  repare  to 
the  Cittie  of  Exeter,  aud  receavinge  from  the  Malor  there  the  person 
of  one  Johu  Sweete,  whom  he  will  deliver  unto  you,  to  hring  him  forth- 
with in  your  companye  and  under  your  safe  custodie  unto  us — ^Willinge 
and  requiringe  all  Maiors,  Sheriffs,  Justices  of  Peace,  Baylifffl^  Con- 
stables^ and  aU  other  his  Majestjr's  Officers  to  he  aydinge  and  assistinge 
nnto  you  in  the  full  and  due  Execucion  of  this  our  Warrant,  Whereof 
neither  vou  nor  they  may  faile  att  your  perill.  And  this  shalbe  unto 
vou  and  them  a  sufficient  Warrant.  Dated  at  Whitehall  the  29th  of 
November,  1621. 

«*  Jo,  Ltncoln,  C.S.       Mandbvill.       E.  Wobstbb. 

^'AaUNDBLL  AND  SUBBBT. 

^  Edmokds,       G.  Calvxbt.       Jul.  CissAB. 

"  Edmonds." 
^  To  our  very  loveinge  Friends  the  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  of  the  Cittie  of  Exeter. 

**  After  our  hearty  commendations  We  have  rec'^  your  letter  of  the  19th 
of  this  present  concerning  the  Apprehension  of  one  JohnSweete^  iuppoaed 
to  he  a  JesuUy  and  what  course  you  have  taken  for  his  forthcommg,  as 
well  in  respect  of  his  refusal  to  make  answer  unto  you  upon  his  exaniina- 
tion,  as  of  the  many  superstitious  things  found  about  him  and  in  his 
Lod^^ings  after  he  was  apprehended.  For  your  caref uU  and  dbcreet  pro- 
ceedmgs  wherein,  as  We  do  give  you  hearty  thanks  and  much  commend 
your  diligence ;  so  forasmuch  as  We  think  it  requisite  that  he  be 
brought  up  hither  to  be  further  examined  before  us,  to  which  purpose 
we  have  sent  these  Bearers,  Messengers  of  his  Majesty's  Chamber,  to 
receive  him  from  you  and  to  bring  him  under  their  safe  custody  to  us. 
These  shalbe  to  will  and  rec[ture  you  to  deliver  the  said  John  Sweete 
unto  them  to  be  brought  hither  accordingly,  for  which  this  shall  be 
your  Warrant.  And  so  we  bid  you  heartily  farewell.  From  Whitehall 
the  29th  of  November,  1621. 

**  Your  loveing  Friends 

•*  Jo.  Lincoln,  C.S. 
**  Mandbvillb.  E.  Wobcbstbb. 

^Abundbll  and  Subbbt. 
**  T.  Edmondbs.    Geo.  Calvbbt.    Jul.  Casab. 

"C.  Edmondbs." 

**  Pcstscript. — You  are  likewise  to  send  umto  us  the  examinations 
taken  by  you  conoemynge  the  said  Sweete.  **  Lbnox." 


8  8TATB   OF   CATHOLICITY 

An  indorsement  shows  that  this  warrant  was  received  by 
the  mayor  "  on  the  9th  of  December  at  night/'  On  the  11th 
of  that  month  was  written  the  following  receipt  on  the  back 
of  the  Lords'  warrant : — 

"  XI  die  Decemhrisy  Anno  XIX^  Regni  RegU  nunc. 

**  We  John  Poulter  and  Leonard  Joyner,  Messengers  of  his  Majestv's 
Chamber,  by  virtue  of  a  Warrant  to  us  granted  by  the  Lords  of  his 
Majesty's  InriTie  Councell,  have  receyved  of  Walter  Borou^b,  Maior  of 
tbe  Citiie  of  Exeter,  the  bodye  of  Joiin  Sweete,  together  witb  a  leather 
bagge  sealed,  to  be  delirered  to  the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  Privye 
Counsel!.    Wee  saye  reseved  the  xi*^  of  December,  1621. 

"Jobs  Poultbr. 
**  Lbonabd  Jotnkr." 

The  worthy  priest  remained^  I  believe^  a  close  prisoner  in 
London  until  after  the  accession  of  King  Charles  I.  Such 
was  the  importance  attached  to  the  capture  of  one  of  our 
clei^! 

About  this  very  time  the  following  letters  were  addressed 
to  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  Exeter  by  that  intolerant 
and  persecuting  lawyer  and  justice  Richard  Reynell^  of 
Greedy  Wiger,  near  Crediton,  Esq.  He  had  been  sworn  a 
counsellor  for  Exeter  on  16th  Septemberj  1617  : — 

"  Right  Worshipfull, 

•*  I  have  receayed  y'  second  letter  of  the  xix*  of  this  instant 
November,  whereby  I  heare  you  have  addressed  vour  letters  to  y*  Lords, 
dec.  God  blesse  vour  labours.  Upon  y'  former  fetters  1  sent  my  servant 
with  warrants  for  Sataheot,  Billy  4tc,  But  they  had  notice  of  all  jr' 
proceedings  two  hours  before  day  y*  Sunday  night,  and  of  the  said 
letter  to  me,  and  sent  there  secret  friends  to  y*  Constables  t^  learn 
whether  they  had  receaved  any  warrants  from  me  to  search,  &c.  And 
old  Baggot  was  seen  ryding  to  and  from  y*  Popish  House^  there  affirm-  • 
ing  that  some  were  coming  from  me,  wnereby  the  Service  is  lyke  to 
receive  some  defeat  for  this  time.  But  I  have  sent  for  old  Baggot.  I 
marvel  how  they  should  so  speedily  have  notice  of  your  doings  and 
letters.  I  expect  Baggot  this  morning,  if  he  may  be  found :  and  so  till 
then  I  do  with  m^  due  respect  commend  you  to  the  Lord,  who  directs 
us  herein,  die.  &c 

^  RiCHABD  RbTNEIiL." 

*^  1  wish  you  had  descrybed  S.  Hill  by  his  stature  and  ^)parell,  etc. 
—R.R." 

"Right  Worshipful!, 

'<  1  have  receaved  y'  letter  and  thereby  learn  the  great  care  you 
have  of  the  safetye  of  the  State  and  of  y«  Citye,  It  is  true,  the  cause 
concemes  God  and  y*  King ;  and  there&re  titt  we  should  be  most  care- 
full  therein.  I  acknowledge  your  example  doth  much  inoourage  me  to 
do  my  best  endevor  in  that  behalf,  for  which  purpose  I  will  aoooiding 
to  your  advice  send  out  warrants,  and  tliat  by  a  servant  of  myne  owne, 


IN   DBY0N8HIBB   AND   CORNWALL.  9 

to  the  entent  I  may  be  aecertayned  what  may  be  done  thereby.  The 
Lord  give  a  blessing  unto  our  indevors  in  this  behalf :  to  whose  mercy- 
full  proteccion  I  do  with  my  due  respect  commend  you,  &c. 

**  Richard  Retnsll." 

One  John  Beadon^  a  Catholic^  of  Exeter,  for  having  visited 
F.  Sweet  in  this  high  jail,  was  himself  committed  to  prison 
on  8th  December,  1621. 

In  the  Becord-oflSoe^  within  the  Castle  of  Exeter,  I  met 
with  the  following  order  of  the  magistrates  in  sessions 
assembled,  to  search  the  honaes  of  George  Eveleigh  and 
Thomas  Babbington : — 

'« Easter  Sessions  Anno  tettio  JaeM  R.  1606. 

''Whereas  We  have  credible  information  given  us  of  great  resorte 
made  in  the  nyght  season  and  other  unlawful  tymes  to  the  houses  of 
€hotye£veleUiAe*  of  Ottery  St.  Maiye,  Esq.,  and  of  Thomas  BahbUigtm^ 
of  the  same.  Gen**,  of  Recusants,  Papists,  and  other  persons  ill  affected 
to  His  Majesty,  and  not  conformable  to  the  Law  of  this  Realm  :  some 
also  of  those  that  repair  thither  being  yehementiv  suspected  to  be  eyther 
Seminaries,  Jesuits,  or  Massing  Priests,  and  to  bring  with  them  Popish 
Books,  Vestments  and  other  unlawful  Reliques :  in  regard  there  hath 
been  of  late  diyerse  directions  from  His  Highness,  the  Lords  of  bis 
Council  and  other  Ministers  of  Justice  for  the  apprehending  and  finding 
out  of  such.  Wee  doe  therefore  in  his  Majesty's  name  and  in  further- 
ance of  that  service  will  and  command  you,  that  all  such  Umes  as 
Roberte  Haidon,  Eec^.,  one  of  our  Colleagues,  shall  signify  unto  you,  you 
make  Privy  Search  in  the  said  Howses  for  the  apprehending  of  such 
disloyal  Persons  and  finding  of  such  Popish  Books  and  other  Reliques 
aforesaid^  and  having  any,  that  you  bring  them  to  some  of  us  to  be 
examined  and  further  proceeded  with,  as  to  justice  appertaineth. 
Whereof  We  charge  you  not  to  fail,  as  you  will  answer  the  contrary  to 
your  uttermost  perils. 

*«To  the  High  Constable  and  Pet^  Constobles  of 
St.  Mary  Ottery  and  to  every  of  them." 

I  have  seen  the  will  of  Bichard  Tremayne,  of  Tregonen^  in 
St.  Ewe's  parish,  bearing  date  30th  September,  1609,  in 
which  he  states  he  had  been  "  a  convicted  recusant,  and  for 
many  years  had  been  contemned  and  hated  by  the  world.'' 
Was  he  not  condemned  to  perpetual  imprisonment  with 


i  to  perpet 
Perhaps  he 


Sir  Francis  Tregian?  t    Perhaps  he  was  restored  to  liberty 

*  In  the  Act-Book  of  Dr.  Cotton,  bishop  of  Exeter,  I  observe  the 
marriage  licence  granted  dOth  September,  1612,  to  this  George  Evdeigh 
and  Bridget  Fursdon^  of  Fursdon,  in  Cadbury  parish.  The  Fursdons 
were  then  Catholics.  At  Michaelmas  Sessions,  1600,  Petronell  Fursdon, 
wife  of  William  Fursdon,  of  Cadbury,  Thomas  Fursdon  and  his  sister 
Alice,  of  Thorrerton,  were  presented  as  Papists. 

t  In  voL  iiL  of  Dariee  Gilbert's  Cornwall,  p.  360,  the  Tregian  estate 
is  said  to  have  been  estimated  at  £3^000  per  annum,  which,  with  all 
hia  ready  money,  was  seized  by  Q,ueen  Elisabeth.  Recovering  his 
freedom  after  twenty-eight  years'  incaroeratioii»  but  ruined  in  fortune 
and  impaired  in  constitution,  he  proceeded  to  Lisboiit  where  he  died 


10  STATS   OF  CATHOLICITY 

with  him  after  twenty-eight  years'  confinement^  soon  after 
the  accession  of  King  James  I. 

In  Rymer's  Foedera,  torn.  xix.  p.  170,  we  read  that  John 
Hunter^  of  St.  Stephen's,  Cornwall,  was  tried  and  convicted 
at  Exeter,  on  the  3rd  Angust,  1629,  of  haying  asserted  at 
Chndleigh,  on  the  preceding  28th  June,  that  **  the  Pope  of 
Borne  is  head  of  the  Church,  and  hath  spiritual  jurisdiction 
within  the  territories  of  Christian  princes/'  The  poor  man, 
terrified  at  the  prospect  of  a  cruel  execution,  took  the  oaths 
of  allegiance  and  supremacy  in  full  court,  and  acknowledged 
himself  guilty  of  the  offence.  In  consequence,  the  judge 
recommended  him  to  mercy,  and  King  Charles  I.  issued  a 
special  pardon  to  him  on  22nd  of  June,  1630. 

About  this  time  the  Eev.  Thomas  BuUaker,  O.8.F.,  landed 
at  Plymouth  to  begin  his  missionary  career,  when  he  was 
apprehended  on  the  information  of  the  master  of  the  vessel, 
and  brought  before  the  mayor  of  that  town,  who  committed 
him  to  its  loathsome  jail,  without  any  other  bed  but  the  bare 
ground  during  the  severe  weather.  At  the  end  of  eight 
days  he  was  removed  to  that  den  of  infection  the  county 
jail  at  Exeter,  where  he  had  to  pass  the  remainder  of  the 
winter  of  1630,  with  ruin  to  his  constitution.  At  the  next 
Lenten  assizes  he  was  produced  for  trial.  The  only  evidence 
brought  against  him  was  that  of  a  sailor,  who  showed  a  book 
taken  from  the  prisoner,  and  which  he  called  a  Missal.  On 
its  being  examined  by  the  Court,  it  turned  out  to  be  a  Spanish 
histoiy,  which  Mr.  Bullaker  had  got  to  amuse  him  during 
the  voyage ;  and  as  no  proof  could  be  adduced  of  his  priestly 
character,  he  was  eventually  discharged  from  custody.  The 
apostolic  man  repaired  to  London,  and  devoted  the  eleven 
following  years  to  the  instruction  of  the  poor  and  afflicted. 
On  11th  September,  1643,  whilst  celebrating  mass  in  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Powell,  the  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Brown,  of 
the  Montague  family,  and  during  the  recital  of  Gloria  in 
Ejccelsis,  he  was  seized  by  the  apostate  Wadswortb,  and 
hurried  before  the  Sheriff  of  London.  Conviction  of  the 
being  a  priest  according  to  the  order  of  Melchisedech  followed, 
and  the  12th  of  the  following  month  witnessed  his  hanging 
and  dismemberment  at  Tyburn,  set.  thirty-eight;  Bel.  19, 
Sacerd.  14.  One  of  his  arm-bones  is  respectfully  preserved 
in  St.  Elizabeth's  Convent  at  Taunton. 

During  the  unfortunate  civil  wars,  the  Catholics  had  to 
drink  the  chalice  of  affliction  to  the  very  dregs.    The  Parlia- 

25ih  September,  1008,  aged  00.  The  king  of  Spain  had  granted  him 
a  pension  of  sixty  cruziMlos  per  month.  But  more  of  this  confessor 
of  the  faith  in  ArFBN niz  No.  II. 


IN   DBVON8H1BB  AND   CORNWALL.  11 

ment  required  of  the  commissioiiers  ''  to  use  their  utmost 
endeavours  to  discover  all  Popish  recusants;  to  administer 
the  oath  of  abjuration  to  all  persons  upon  whom  there  shall 
be  suspicion  of  Popish  recusancnr ;  and  if  any  such  refuse  to 
take  the  same,  proceed  forthwitn  to  seize  and  sequester  two- 
thirds  of  their  real  and  personal  estate/'  Amongst  some  of 
the  fiedthfiil  so  denounced  and  convicted,  we  find  Sir  Edward 
Gary,  who  held  the  impropriate  rectorial  tithes  of  Mary 
Church  and  Paignton,  and  lands  in  Staverton  and  Stokenham. 

Sir  Robert  Brett,  who  had  the  rectory  of  Yarcombe. 

John  Poyntz,  of  Arlington. 

John  Coffin,  of  Parkham. 

William  Oiffard,  of  Bucland  Brewer. 

Anthony  Giflhrd,^  of  Lancras. 

Garret  Dillon,  of  Morthoc. 

Walter  Grant. 

Susan  Chichester,  widow. 

Dorothy  Berry. 

George  Bayley,  of  Langtre. 

Dorothy  Risdon,  of  Harberton.t 

Thomas  Marsh,  of  Rewe.t 

*  Hu  ^^ye-8tone  fronting  the  oommunion-table  in  Lancras  Church 
bears  a  triple  cross,  with  this  legend :— ^  Hie  jacet  Antonius  Giffordus, 
Dominos  ae  Lancrass,  Vir  vere  pius  et  Cathohcus.    Ob.  14  Feb.  1649." 

f  In  Wyot's  Register,  quoted  m  Gribble's  Hist,  of  Barnstaple,  p.  628. 
~**  Assizes  at  Exeter,  March,  1602.— The  Lord  Chief  Baron  sent  to  the 
common  gaol  Mrs.  Giles  Risdon  and  Mr.  William  Burgoyne,  beii^ 
recasants,  there  to  remayne  at  hb  pleasure :  if  they  had  rather  eo  to 
gaol  than  to  church,  much  good  mignt  it  doe  them ;  I  am  not  of  tneyr 
mynde." 

X  The  following  I  copy  from  the  original  in  the  possession  of  Charles 
Noel  Welman,  of  Norton  Court,  Esq. 

^  At  the  Standing  Committee  for  the  County  of  Devon,  the  16th  day 
of  Oct.  1646. 

**  Whereas  the  Farm  of  Heasell,  in  the  Parish  of  Rewe,  now  is  and 
standeth  sequestered,  being  the  Farm  of  Thomas  Marsh,  of  Rewe 
aforesaid,  Gent.,  a  Papist^  It  is  ordered  by  this  Committee,  that  Thomas 
Barton,  of  SilYerton,  m  tne  countie  aforesaid,  Gent,  shall  hold,  possesse, 
and  enjoy  the  same  Farm  of  Heasell,  which  Farm  is  hereby  set  and 
deinysea  unto  the  said  Tho*.  Barton  for  one  yeere,  w^^  yeere  is  to 
begin  from  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  last  before  the  date 
hereof  and  the  said  yeere  to  end  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Arch- 
angel next  after  the  date  hereof;  for  which  terme  the  said  Tho*.  Barton 
is  to  pay  the  Rent  of  Fifty  five  Pounds  yeerely,  by  even  and  equall 
porcions,  unto  the  Treasurer  of  the  Committee ;  the  first  payment  to 
Begin  at  Christmas  next.  Ordered  that  the  said  Tho*.  Barton  shall  pay 
unto  Charles  Vaghan,  Esq,  Treasurer,  for  such  profitts  as  he  hath  taken 
out  of  the  said  Farm  since  June  last,  the  sum  of  Twenty  Markes. 

**JoHN  Champnbys.    Philip  Frahois.    John  Beare. 
"  John  Barton.    Cuarlbs  Vaghan.    Tim.  Alsop." 


12  STATE   OF   CATHOLICITY 

Thomas  Kirkham,  of  Bidwell^  Newton  St.  Gyres. 

William  Kirkham^  of  Pinhoe. 

Arthur  Trevelyan,  of  Littleham. 

John  Holford^  of  Sampford  Peverell. 

John  Bowe^  of  Starerton. 

The  Lady  Wrey^  who  had  rents  in  Sourton. 

Robert  Bayly.* 

George  Blount^  of  Ashcombe. 

In  the  State-paper  Office^  amongst  the  proceedings  of  the 
committee  for  managing  the  estates  under  sequestration^  I 
find  the  following  entries : — 

^*  16th  Nov.  1654.  Thomas  Riadon,  an  infant,  by  Charles  Maynard, 
Grent.,  his  {guardian,  petitioner  to  dischaive  sequestration  of  lands  fallen 
to  him  by  the  death  of  father  and  mother :  two-thirds  whereof  were 
sequestered  for  the  recusancy  of  Dorothy  Risdon,  deceased,  his  mother. 

Ordered. 

*'4th  Jan.  1654/5.  William  Bavly  and  John  Cleverdon,  Gents.,  for 
discharge  of  sequestration  of  fds  of  lands  in  Devon,  made  over  to  them 
for  ten  years  bv  Humphrv  Coffin,  Grent.,  under  sequestration  for  the 
recusancy  of  John  Coffin,  his  father,  deceased.  Referred. 

'*18th  Jan.  1654/5.  Christopher  Maynard,  discharged  of  seques- 
tration of  lands  purchased  by  him  of  Thomas  Cary,  now  under  seques- 
tration for  recusancy  of  Sir  Edward  Cary,  deceased.  Ordered. 

"  25th  Jan.  1654/5.  PetiUon  of  John  Giffiord,  infant,  by  Thomas 
Leigh,  of  Northam,  Esq.,  his  guardian,  for  allowance  of  title  to  lands 
which  came  to  him  by  death  of  his  mother  Honor  Giffi^rd,  \b  of  which 
were  sequestered  for  recusancy.  Ordered. 

« 1st  Feb.  1654/5.  Petition  of  Wm.  Leigh,  Gent.,  for  discharge  of 
sequestration  of  half  the  manor  of  Upton,  sequestered  for  the  recusancy 
of  Anthony  Gifford,  deceased.  Ordered. 

«  25th  Feb.  1654/5.  Petition  of  Sir  Wm.  Courtena^r,  Wm.  Kirkham, 
and  Christopher  Maynard,  for  sequestration  to  be  discharged  on  lands 
in  Devon,  made  over  to  them  by  Sir  George  Cary,  for  payment  of 
debts,  &c,  Is  whereof  are  sequestered  for  recusancy  of  his  late  father. 
Sir  Edward  Cary.  Ordered. 

<'22nd  March,  1654/5.  Petition  of  Jqhu  Maynard,  Seneant-at-Law, 
to  discharge  two-thirds  of  certain  copyholds  within  the  Manor  of  Beer 
Ferris,  for  recusancy  of  Thomasin  Wakeman,  widow. 

'*  N.B.  The  Earl  of  Worcester  in  1648,  a  Papist,  held  in  Devon  the 
manors  of  Denbuxy  and  Chumleiffh,  and  some  other  detached  parcels, 
bringing  a  net  rent  of  £289.  6«.  3a. 

**  The  Marquis  of  Winchester  had  also  the  manors  of  North  Bovey, 
Hempston  Arundell,  Brixham,  East  Portlemouth,  Bigbury,  Denbury, 
Chamleigh,  and  Wolston,  whose  total  rent  was  £576.  89.  ll^i^." 

The  restoration  of  monarchy  did  not  afford  much  relief  to 
the  persecuted  Catholics.     On  13th  September^  1667,  the 

*  His  lands  in  Doddiscomblegh  were  sequestered  for  recusancy  on 
19th  February,  1646.    Obiit  10th  November,  1653. 


IN   DBTON8HIRS   AND   CORNWALL.  13 

Privy  Council  addressed  a  letter  to  the  justices  of  the  peace 
for  the  county  of  Devon^  setting  forth^  that  '^  notwithstanding 
his  Majesty's  proclamation^  and  the  laws^  and  the  endeavours 
of  his  ministers  and  judges^  to  suppress  the  growth  of  Popery, 
according  to  the  desires  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  in  that 
behalf,  yet  many  Popish  priests  are  as  active  as  ever  to  seduce 
his  Majesty's  good  subjects,  and  to  persuade  them  to  embrace 
the  Popish  religion,  and  therein  have  the  help  and  encourage- 
ment of  many  of  that  persuasion,  who  (although  obnoxious 
to  law)  have  of  late  behaved  themselves  very  bold  and 
insolently;  for  the  prevention  of  which  growing  mischief, 
and  for  the  preservation  of  the  true  Protestant  religion, 
his  Majesty  hath  commanded  us  to  signify  to  you  his  ex- 
press pleasure  and  command,  that  you,  in  your  respective 
divisions,  do  use  your  utmost  endeavours  to  apprehend 
all  Popish  priests  and  Jesuits  that  endeavour  to  seduce  and 
pervert  his  Majesty's  subjects ;  and  that  if  any  of  them  be 
by  them  seduced  and  perverted  to  become  Papists,  you  do 
strictly  examine  the  persons  led  away  to  the  Romish  religion, 
and  make  further  and  diligent  inquiry  who  have  been  the 
instrument  and  means  in  their  seducement  and  perversion, 
whether  priests  or  others;  and  that,  according  to  his 
Majesiy's  said  proclamation,  you  proceed  against  them 
according  to  law  established.  And  that  further,  you  cause 
the  laws  against  the  growth  of  Popery  and  Papist  recusants, 
and  for  their  conviction,  to  be  put  in  due  and  full  execution.'' 

This  intolerant  letter  I  have  seen,  with  the  fifteen  original 
signatures.  Amongst  them  is  that  of  Sir  Thomas  Cl^ord 
(literwards  the  Lord  Treasurer),  who  five  years  later  made 
the  amende  honorable,  by  recondling  himself  to  the  religion 
which  he  had  sought  to  proscribe. 

The  Conventicle  Act  of  King  Charles  II.  provided  that 
every  person  above  sixteen  years  of  age  present  at  any 
meeting,  under  pretence  of  any  exercise  of  religion  in  other 
manner  than  is  the  practice  of  the  Church  of  England,  when 
there  are  five  persons  more  than  the  household,  shall  for  the 
first  offence,  by  a  justice  of  the  peace  be  recorded,  and  sen- 
tenced to  jail  for  three  months  till  he  pay  £5 ;  and  for  the 
second  offence,  six  months  till  he  pay  £10 ;  and  the  third 
time  being  convicted  by  a  jury,  he  shall  be  banished  to  some 
of  the  American  plantations  I 

And  when  the  public  mind  was  maddened  by  the  unblush- 
ing peijuries  of  Titus  Oates,  though  the  king  from  the 
beginning  was  satisfied  that  the  plot  was  ^'  all  a  fiction,  never 
believing  one  tittle  of  it;"  yet  did  he  not  sport  with  the 
character,  the  property,  the  liberties,  and  the  lives  of  his 


14  STATE   OF   CATHOLICITY 

innocent  and  loyal  Catholic  subjects?  In  Tain  have  I 
searched  for  the  names  of  the  "  seven  Popish  priests ''  whom 
his  detestable  policy  hurried  to  the  Sdlly  Icdands  in  1681. 
See  the  moneys  paid  for  his  secret  service^  9th  March  of 
that  year. 

To  the  Catholics^  sitting  in  darkness  and  writhing  under 
the  scorpions  of  persecuticvi,  it  was  a  relief  and  comfort  to 
behold  in  the  person  of  James  II.  an  open  professor  of  their 
faith,  and  a  champion  of  the  rights  of  conscience.  Then  "  a 
mass-house  was  opened  in  Exeter/'  to  use  the  words  of 
Calamy,  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  391.  This  excited  the  black  bile  of 
that  fanatical  ranter  George  Trosse,  whose  epitaph  in  St. 
Bartholomew's-yard,  Exeter,  describes  him  as  the  greatest  of 
sinners,  the  least  of  the  saints,  and  the  most  unworthy  of 
preachers  !  His  Majesty  was  pleased  to  appoint  to  the  office 
of  High  Sheriff  of  Devon,  in  1687,  a  most  respectable 
Catholic  gentleman,  viz.  John  Rowe,*  of  Kingston,  Esq., 
who  died  in  1688. 

With  the  Revolution  came  the  re-action  of  the  popular 
fren^  against  the  unoffending  Catholics.  The  Exeter 
"  mass-house  '^  was  levelled  to  the  ground :  its  priest, 
F.  Morris,  narrowly  escaped:  all  personal  liberty  and  pro- 
perty were  insecure.  The  double  land-tax  was  imposed  and 
exacted,  and  the  reward  of  £100  for  the  discovery  of  a  priest 
held  out  a  daily  temptation  to  mercenaries,  and  to  unprin- 
cipled servants  and  false  brethren,  to  turn  informers  against 
chaplains  and  their  patrons.  Nay,  though  the  edge  of  the 
penal  laws  grew  gradually  blunted  under  the  government  of 
the  house  of  Brunswick,  yet  in  all  times  of  political  commo- 
tion, we  were  liable  to  suffer  £rom  their  cutting  force  until 
the  year  1778.t 

*  To  show  the  despotism  and  grinding  misery  which  Catholics  for^ 
merly  had  to  endure,  I  transcribe  the  following  extract  from  an  original 
letter  written  in  1613 : — **  Mr.  Bo  we  [he  was  an  ancestor  of  this  sheriff 
of  Devon  aboye  mentioned]  was  sent  for  up  to  London,  for  that  being  witli 
a  knight  of  his  acquaintance,  when  it  was  objected  that  the  Paj^xts  had 
poisoned  Henry,  prince  of  Wales,  he  answered,  it  might  as  well  be  the 
PrifUstanU;  for  tnat  he  had  more  of  them  about  him.  The  which  the 
said  knight  repeating  at  another  time  what  he  heard  a  gentleman  say 
of  his  acquaintance  (where  a  Scot  was  present),  he  was  forced  to  bring 
forUi  the  same  gentleman  ;  and  it  cost  Mr.  Howe  forty  pounds  before 
he  was  released?' 

t  See  Proclamations  of  Geo.  II.,  dated  6th  Sept.  and  6th  Dec.  1745, 
in  vol.  XV.  Gent.  Mag.  1745.  Even  we  read  in  the  Universal  Museum, 
a  complete  magazine  of  1767,  March :  "  Another  mass-house  was  dis- 
covered in  Hog-lane,  near  the  Seven  Dials."  P.  41,  March:  "John 
Baptist  Malony,  a  Popish  priest^  was  taken  up  for  exercising  his  func- 
tions in  Kent-street  contrary  to  law.    He  is  bound  over  in  i^400  to 


IN   DBYONSHIBB   AND  CORNWALL. 


15 


I  conclude  this  first  chapter  with  an  extract  from  a  letter 
I  received  from  a  lamented  firiend^  Miss  Margaret  Sweetland, 
dated  "  Tunbridge  Wells,  25th  June,  1840/'  "  We  have  here 
at  present  the  fEunily  of  Mr.  Loughnan.  He  was  a  highly 
respectable  merchant  in  London:  his  lady  was  a  Miss 
Hamilton,  niece  to  old  Sir  Alexander  Hamilton,  who  lived  at 
the  Retreat,  near  Topsham.  The  knight  left  his  fortune  to 
this  Mr.  Loughnan's  eldest  son,  on  the  condition  of  his 
conforming  to  the  Established  Church;  but  should  he  refuse 
the  condition,  it  was  to  be  offered  to  all  the  six  sons,  one 
after  the  other.  The  parents  are  thankful  to  be  able  to  say, 
they  were  all  too  firmly  rooted  in  their  Catholic  ficdth  to 
accept  it.  The  person  who  now  has  it  was  next  in  succession, 
and  a  Protestant,  and  changed  his  name  only  (Kelso)  to  take 
possession.  Sir  Alexander  Hamilton  died  at  the  Retreat^ 
12th  June,  1809,  aged  seventy-seven,  and  was  buried  in  the 
parish  church  of  Topsham/' 

take  his  trial  at  the  next  Kingston  assizes."  P.  455  :  "  N.B.  He  was 
convicted  at  Croydon  on  2drd  Augast,  and  sentenced  to  perpetual 
imprisonment."  See  p.  4d5,  ihid.  (His  crime  was  administering  the 
Sacrament  to  a  sick  man.  After  four  years'  imprisonment  he  was 
banished  from  England  for  life.)  Again,  in  p.  267,  May,  1767:  **A 
Popish  mass-house  in  the  Park,  Southwark,  was  suppressed ;  but  the 
officiating  priest  escaped  at  a  back-door."  P.  379, 16th  July  :  "The 
archbishop  of  York,  in  obedience  to  his  Majesty's  commands,  has 
required  of  the  sufiragan  bishops  of  his  province  to  procure  complete 
lists  of  all  Papists,  or  reputed  Papists,  distinguishing  sex,  age,  occu- 
pation, and  length  of  residence."  And  in  p.  381 :  "  The  archbishop  of 
Canterbury  has  been  directed  to  make  out  a  similar  return." 

The  Rev.  James  Webb  was  tried  for  priesthood  in  the  Court  of  Kin^s 
Bench,  25th  June,  1768,  and  the  Hon.  and  Rt.  Rev.  James  Talbot  in 
1769,  but  escaped  for  want  of  evidence  of  his  priesthood.  In  1770 
Sir  William  Stanley,  of  Hooton,  Bart.,  was  indicted  for  refusing  to  part 
with  his  four  coach-horses  to  a  church  dignitanr,  who  had  tendered  nim 
a  £20  note ;  but  was  acquitted  on  the  ground  of  its  not  then  being  a 
legal  tender. 


16  CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN 


CHAPTER  II. 

BOMB  N0TICB8  Or  CATHOLIC   FAKILIB8   IN   DEVONSHIRE  AND 
COENWALL. 

The  Arundells  of  Lanheme  formerly  possessed  such  pro- 
perty and  inflaepce  as  to  have  acquired,  according  to  Leland^ 
the  epithet  of  the  "Great  Arundells/'  And  Carew,  the 
Cornish  historian,  adds,  "they  were  the  greatest  for  love, 
living,  and  respect  heretofore  in  the  country/'  But  though 
entitled  to  the  highest  consideration  by  antiquity  of  descent, 
dignity  of  connections,  and  extent  of  lands  and  royalties, 
they  placed  their  highest  honour  in  the  practice  and  munifi- 
cent protection  of  religion.  Unfortunately,  one  of  the  family, 
Humphry  Arundell,  Esq.,  the  governor  of  St.  Michael's 
Mount,  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  VI.  attempted  to  sup- 
port the  old  faith  by  open  insurrection;  forgetful  of  the 
maxim,  "  non  resistendo  sed  perferendo."  In  the  sequel  he 
fell  a  victim  to  the  avenging  law  of  his  country.  He  was 
executed  at  Tyburn  in  November,  1549. 

Sir  John  Arundell  (son  of  Sir  John  Arundell,  who  had 
died  24th  March,  1558)  was,  on  account  of  his  religion,  with 
his  servant  Glynn,  committed  to  prison  by  Queen  Elizabeth 
in  1581.  He  was  eventually  discharged;  but  this  servant 
died  in  confinement.  The  worthy  knight  survived  until 
17th  January,  1591,  according  to  the  Isleworth  Register. 
His  daughters  Gertrude  and  Dorothy,  on  11th  July,  six  years 
later,  consecrated  themselves  to  Gt>d  in  the  Benedictine 
Convent  at  Brussels. 

The  next  successor  to  the  property,  John  Arundell,  was  in- 
deed a  great  sufferer  for  conscience'  sake.  In  a  letter  before  me 
of  F.  Richard  Blount,  dated  7th  November,  1606,  he  says : — 

**  Catholics  are  daily  more  and  more  impov^erished  ;  for  besides  that 
his  Majesty  has  the  whole  forfeiture,  either  of  two-tliirds  of  the  lands 
and  all  goods,  or  else  twenty  pounds  monthly  of  such  as  are  able :  they 
are  all  given  to  Scots,  to  be  yet  more  nanWly  sifted  and  ransacked,  if 
some  composition  be  not  made  with  them.  In  this  manner  Mr.  Talbot^ 
Mr,  John  Arund^*  Mr.  Throgmorton,  and  all  others  of  any  ability^ 

•  Among  the  papers  at  Wardour  Castle  are  two,  of"  which  the 
endoTsations  attest  to  the  sufferings  of  Lord  Arundell's  ancestors : — 
1. — Recusancy  of  John  Arundell. 
20  Feb.  4  Jac.  1. 1607. 
Letters-patent  of  King  James  I.,  directing  the  officers  of  the  Court  of 


DEVONSHIRE  AND   COENWALL.  1? 

are  begged  and  forced  to  oompound,  or  elae  to  be  in  danger,  by  one 
means  or  other,  to  lose  aHU* 

From  a  letter  in  the  State-paper  Office^  dated  21st  October^ 
1642^  by  a  Parliamentarian,  I  make  the  following  extract : — 

^  Mr.  Arundell  hath  the  greatest  forces  here,  and  is  able  to  raise 
more  than  half  the  gentlemen  in  ComwaUy  and  he  alone  was  the  first 
that  began  the  rebellion  there.  There  hath  lately  been  landed  at  some 
creek  in  that  county  ten  or  more  seminary  priests,  which  are  newly 
come  out  of  Flanders,  and  harboured  in  Mr.  Arundell's  house.*  They 
are  merciless  creatures;  and  there  is  great  way  laid  for  the  appre^ 
hension  of  them." 

This  gentleman  bad  to  suffer  the  sequestration  of  his 
estates  for  many  years,  and  it  cost  him  nearly  £3,000  to  get 
off  at  last.  In  the  sequel  of  this  compilation,  we  shall  see 
that  this  illustrious  family  had  to  submit  to  many  painful 
sacrifices  until  the  relaxation  of  the  penal  laws;  but  ''they 
chose  rather  to  be  afflicted  with  the  people  of  Ood,  than  to 
have  the  pleasure  of  sin  for  a  time^  esteeming  the  reproach 
of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  this  world :  for 
they  looked  to  the  reward.^' 

The  Courtenays  yield  to  few  families  in  the  British  empire, 
or  even  in  Europe,  in  antiquity  of  descent  and  splendour  of 
connection.  "  Atavis  edite  regibus ''  may  justly  be  said  of 
their  illustrious  pedigree ;  but  when  they  ceased  to  be  Catho- 
lics I  cannot  determine  with  accuracy.  Henry  Courtenay, 
E.G.,  the  eleventh  earl  of  Devon,  created  marquis  of  Exeter 
18th  June,  1625,  whose  mother  was  Catherine  of  York, 
daughter  of  King  Edward  lY.,  sister  to  Elizabeth,  the  Queen 
of  Henry  VII.,  and  aunt  to  King  Henry  VIII.,  was  sacri« 
ficed,  by  a  breach  of  the  most  sacred  laws  of  justice,  to  the 
gloomy  suspicions  of  that  remorseless  tyrant,  the  last-men-> 
tioned  monarch,  on  9th  January,  1539.  '^  Odium  Tyranni 
in  virtutemetNobilitatem.^' — (Apologia  Cardinalis  Poli,  118.) 
Edward,  the  only  son  of  the  marquis,  and  but  thirteen  years 


Exchequer  not  to  seize  any  of  the  lands  of  John  ArundeU,  Esq.,  con- 
victed of  recusancy,  so  long  as  he  paid  £20  a  month  for  not  frequenting 
church,  &c.  {£2A0  per  ann,) 


2.--20  June,  34  Eliz.  1591. 
Recusancy  of  George  Arundell,  Esq, 
John  Maynard,  Yeoman  the 

G^'Z'SddirSq.of  Lan-    ^  Fine  £20  a  month, 
hem^  Cornwall. 


(   Fir 


*  There  is  an  hereditary  tradition  at  Lanherne  that  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  has  always  been  kept  there  since  the  Reformation. 

c 


18  CATHOLIC    FAMILIES   IN 

old  when  his  father  fell  into  disgrace,  was  committed  to  the 
Tower^  where  he  remained  in  close  confinement  from  1538 
until  1553,  his  manners  and  education  being  totally  neg- 
lected. One  of  the  first  acts  of  Queen  Mary  at  her  accession 
to  the  throne  was  to  release  him  from  his  cruel  imprison- 
ment. On  3rd  September  she  issued  letters  patent  creating 
him  Earl  of  Devon,  to  hold  to  him  "  et  heredibus  suis  mas- 
culis  in  perpetuum  ;^'  and  according  to  F.  Persons'  '^  History 
of  Domesticall  Difficulties  in  the  English  Catholic  Cause/'  he 
*'  was  designed  to  be  a  husband  to  Queen  Mary,  if  the  matter 
had  not  been  strongly  laboured  and  overthrown  by  the  con- 
trary faction  of  Lord  Paget/'  It  is  true  that  Bishop  Crardiner 
promoted  such  union  with  all  the  influence  of  his  station.  But 
his  own  misconduct  ruined  all  his  prospects  :  his  ungrateful 
disloyalty  caused  his  recommittal  to  the  Tower  in  April,  1554 ; 
thence  he  was  removed  to  Fotheringay  Castle.  After  the 
Queen's  marriage  with  Philip  of  Spain  he  was  permitted  to 
travel  abroad,  and  dying  of  an  ague  at  Padua,  18th  September, 
1556,  was  honourably  buried  in  St.  Anthony's  Church  there. 
Sir  William  Courtenay,  the  fifth  of  that  name,  of  Powder- 
ham  Castle,  the  founder  of  the  great  Irish  estate,  was  so  stanch 
a  Catholic,  that  he  (as  well  as  his  daughter  Elisuibetb,  wife  of 
Sir  William  Wrey)  was  denounced  by  the  intolerant  House  of 
Commons  on  27th  April,  1624,  aa  the  Papist  recusant.  Cleave- 
land,  in  his  Genealogical  Hist,  of  the  Courtenays,  represents 
that  "  he  did  receive  into  his  house,  and  harbour  the  Jesuits 
and  other  Popish  priests,  which  came  secretly  into  England, 
and  spent  a  great  deal  of  money  in  maintaining  of  them. 
For  there  is  a  tradition,  that  in  a  dark,  secret  room,  which  is 
in  Powderham  Castle,  many  Popish  priests  lay  concealed." 
The  venerable  knight  died  in  London  on  24th  June,  1630,  aged 
seventy-seven,  and  was  buried  at  Powderham.  On  opening 
the  family  vault  for  the  interment  of  Lady  Frances  Courtenay 
on  31st  December,  1761,  was  discovered  the  brass  Maltese 
cross  referred  to  by  Cleaveland,  about  six  inches  long  and 
four  wide,  inscribed  thus : — 

Hie 

jacet 
Sepultus 

Gulielinus  Courtenay  de  Powderham  Miles 
CatholicuB  Romanus  et  Confessor 
qui  obiit  Londini  in  feeto  Sancti  Johannis  Baptistss 
Anno  Salutis  1630  letatis  suie  77°  pro  cujus 

Anima  intercedant 

Beata  Vireo 

et  omnes  Sanctu 


DEVONSHIRB   AND   CORNWALL.  19 

Mr.  Chappie^  in  his  Notes,  says  that  it  was  thrown  again 
into  the  lower  part  of  the  vanlt. 

Sir  William  Cotfrtenay,  only  son  of  Thomas  Courtenay, 
who  was  the  third  son  of  the  Confessor  above  mentioned, 
received  the  honoar  of  knighthood  for  his  gallant  conduct 
9th  April,  1644v  Five  years  later  this  "  Papist  recusant ''  was 
allowed  to  compound  for  one-third  of  his  estates  in  Hants* 
He  had  married  Mary,  the  relict  of  Gilbert  WeUs,  of 
Brambridge,  in  that  county.  I  lose  sight  of  him  after 
February,  1655. 

A  powerful  branch  of  the  Courtenays,  in  the  early  part  of 
King  Henry  YI/s  i^ign,  obtained  possession  of  MoUand  Bot- 
reaux,  by  intermarriage  with  the  Hungerfords.  This  branch 
remained  Catholic  until  John  Courtenay  in  1732  deceased 
without  issue.  His  ancestor  John  Courtenay,  who  died  in 
1660,  had  compounded  for  his  recusancy  in  the  sum  of  £750* 

The  Chichesters  of  Arlington  persevered  in  the  religion  of 
their  forefathers  until  the  representative  of  this  ancient 
family,  John  Palmer  Chichester,  read  his  recantation  in 
Bxeter  Cathedral,  about  the  vear  1795.  His  death  occurred 
at  Weymouth  on  5th  November,  1828,  aet.  fifty-four.  Until 
this  unhappy  defection,  a  priest  had  been  maintained  as 
chaplain  in  the  family.  His  younger  brother,  Charles  Chi- 
chester, settled  at  Calverleigh  Court,  and  lived  and  died  a 
sterling  Catholic.     His  son  walks  in  his  footsteps. 

Strange  to  say,  though  Popery  and  treason  were  considered 
nearly  as  qnionymous  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  yet  license  to 
commit  Popery  and  its  prospective  pardon  might  be  had  for 
money,  fixim  the  heads  of  the  Anglican  Church  and  defenders 
of  the  Faith.  Their  martyr  Charles  I.  loved  to  traffic  in 
such  indulgences.  In  fol.  36  of  the  Patent  Book  of  Dr. 
Hall,  bishop  of  Exeter,  the  author  of  '^  Dissuasive  &om 
Popery,*'  is  copied  his  Majesty's  allowance,  under  the  Great 
Seal  of  England,  and  bearing  date  14th  March,  third  year 
of  his  reign,  1628  (and  exhibited  ten  years  later  to  the  said 
Lofd  Bishop),  to  John  Chichester,  of  Arlington,  Esq.,  and  to 
his  wife  Ann,  to  remain  recusants,  &c.,  and  with  exemption 
from  all  citations,  pains  and  penalties,  during  the  yearly 
payment  of  a  spedfied  sum  of  money  to  the  Crown.  A  similar 
one  is  there  recorded  in  favour  of  Francis  Kirkham,  of 
Pinhoe,  gentleman,  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  dated  21st  April, 
1639,  "  durante  soltUione  pecunueJ'  The  loyal  Sir  Edward 
Cary  got  discharged  on  24th  June,  1634,  by  letters-patent 
under  the  Great  Seal  (which  were  enrolled  in  the  Pipe  Office 
20th  October  following),  as  well  for  himself  as  for  his  wife 
Margaret,   ''ratione  recusantise  suse,  vel  absentia  bus  ab 

c  2 


20  CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN 

ecclesi^  yel  ecdeaiis^  capellis  sive  aliis  locis  communis  pre^ 
cationis^  antehac  seu  imposternm/'  as  long  as  £136.  13«.  4J. 
be  paid  every  year  into  his  Majesty's  exchequer.* 

Before  I  part  with  the  Courtenays  of  Holland,  and  the 
Cbichesters  of  Arlington^  I  must  refer  to  the  letter  in  the 
State-paper  Office,  of  21st  October,  1642,  where  I  read  this 
statement  of  the  parliamentary  bigot : — "  There  hath  ben 
more  substantial  armour  found  in  Mr.  Chichester's  house  at 
Arlington,  and  at  Master  Courtenay  his  house  at  Molland 
(both  recusants),  than  in  our  whole  country  (the  gentry 
excepted).  At  the  searching  of  these  gentlemen's  houses 
there  were  many  wounded." 

Of  the  Risdona  of  Bableigh,  in  Parkham  parish,  I  can 
glean  but  few  particulars.  The  Bev.  Edward  Risdon  was  very 
instrumental  in  the  foundation  of  Douay  College  in  1568. 
In  the  north  aisle  of  Parkham  church  is  this  epitaph : — 

Hoc  tumulo  reqniescit  corpus 
Wilmotoe  Risdon  Vidue 
quondam  Uxoris  Thomae  Risdon  Armigeri 
que  yixit  et  mortna  est  in  Fide  Catholic^. 
1617. 

F.  Sweet  was  mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter  as  being 
apprehended  in  Exeter,  14th  November,  1621,  on  his  way, 
perhaps,  from  Powderham  to  Mr.  John  Risdon.  Again, 
P.  Philip  Powelj  0,8.B.,  was  sent  to  "a  good  family, 
Mr.  Risdon's,  in  Devonshire,  in  1622,  and  continued  his 
ministerial  services  in  the  family  and  its  connections  until 
they  were  scattered  by  the  civil  wars." — See  Challoner's 
"Missionary  Priests,"  where  is  related  his  martyrdom  at 
Tyburn,  30th  June,  1646,  set.  fifty-three,  miss,  twenty-six. 

When  the  Cory  family  returned  to  the  faith  of  their  fore- 
fathers, I  cannot  determine ;  but  I  incline  to  the  opinion  that 
in  the  early  part  of  King  James  I.'s  reign.  Sir  Edward  Gary 
was  reconciled.  He  had  married  Miss  Margaret  Blackhurst, 
of  Lancashire.  Both  died  in  1654 ;  f  he  on  14th  June,  aged 
eighty ;  she,  five  days  later,  in  her  eighty- fifth  year.  Their 
constancy  in  their  religion  has  entailed  a  blessing  on  their 
descendants.  Sir  George,  their  eldest  son,  was  enabled  to 
purchase  Tor  Abbey,  in  1662 ;  and  I  believe  that  nearly  ever 
since  a  priest  might  be  found  there.     He,  Sir  Greorge,  died 

*  As  late  even  as  26th  October,  1689^  ^<  Roger,  earl  of  Castlemain, 
Sir  Edward  Hales,  Charles  Hales,  and  Obadiah  Walter,  prisoners  in  the 
Tower,  were  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Commons  for  high 
treason,  in  being  reconciled  to  the  Church  of  Rome" — Hatsell's  Prece- 
dents, vol.  iv.  p.  259. 

t  See  Appbkdix  No.  III. 


DEVONSHIRE   AND   CORNWALL.  21 

4th  Jane,  1678.  In  the  time  of  his  son  and  heir,  Edward 
Gary,  Esq.,  William,  Prince  of  Orange,  with  a  powerful 
force,  landed  at  Brixham.  The  following  extract  from  the 
diaiy  of  the  Boy.  John  Whittie,  a  chaplain  of  his  highness, 
may  amuse  the  reader : — 

**  5th  Noyember,  1688,  we  all  lode  at  anchor  in  Torbay.  There  is  a 
fair  house  belonging  to  one  Mr.  Gary,  a  very  rigid  Papist^  who  enter- 
tained a  priest  in  his  house.  This  priest  going  to  recreate  himself  on 
the  leads  on  the  top  thereof,  it  being  a  most  delightesome  day,  as  he 
was  walking  there,  he  happened  to  cast  his  eyes  towards  the  sea,  and 
spying  the  fleet  at  a  distance,  withal  being  purblind  in  his  eyes,  as 
well  as  blinded  by  Satan  in  his  mind,  he  presently  concludes  that  it 
was  the  French  navy  (because  he  saw  divers  white  flags)  come  to  land 
the  sons  of  Belial,  which  should  cut  ofi^  the  children  of  God,  or,  as  they 
call  us»  hereticks.  And  being  transported  with  joy,  he  hastened  to 
inform  his  own  disciples  of  the  house,  and  forthwith  they  sang  ^Te 
Deum.' 

^^'And  because  false  reports  were  spread  abroad  that  the  people  of 
this  house  had  shot  several  of  the  Prince  of  Orange's  soldiers,  and 
thereupon  they  had  burnt  down  this  house,  I  must  inform  the  candid 
reader  that  there  was  nothing  at  all  in  it.  For  our  people  did  not  give 
them  one  reviling  word,  nor  they  us.  Some  lodged  there,  while  we 
were  in  the  bay." — ^Page  36. 

Another  account  says, — 

**  The  prince,  on  Monday,  5th  November,  sent  a  Captain  M.  to  search 
Tor  Abbey,  and  so  all  other  houses  belonging  to  Papists,  for  horses  and 
anna,"— See  No.  710  of  Exeter  Flying  Post. 

The  Gary  family  has  remained  immovable  in  the  Catholic 
faith  since. 

Some  of  the  Godolphins  of  Cornwall  professed  the  Catho« 
lie  creed.  Sir  William  Godolphin  (the  elder  brother  of  that 
famous  Sidney,  created  Lord  Grodolphin  and  baron  of  Rial* 
ton,  8th  September,  1684)  was  sent  ambassador  to  Spain  by 
King  Charles  II.,  and  there  embraced  the  Catholic  faith, 
and  ended  his  days  in  that  country.  Dodd  (vol.  iii.  of 
his  "Church  Hist.''  p.  251)  says,  that  "he  left  a  consider- 
able substance''  for  the  benefit  of  religion.  In  the  procura- 
tor's books  of  the  Colleges  at  St.  Omer  and  at  Bruges,  I  find 
mention  of  the  "  Gbdolphin's  free  place  for  Cornwall ;"  and 
in  F.  John  Thorpe's  letter,  written  from  Rome  in  September, 
1789,  that— 

<'  Mr.  Stonor,  the  agent  of  the  English  clergy  at  Rome,  had  presented 
a  petition  several  years  before,  at  the  request  of  Lord  Arundell,  for 
recovering  the  maintenance  of  the  Godolphin  mission;  bat  obtained 
notliing  from  Foggini,  who  then  acted  for  Cardinal  Corsini — ^that  before 
the  suppression  Si  the  Jesuits,  the  snm  of  between  300  and  400  crowns 
used  yearly  to  be  passed  to  the  English  provincial  of  the  Society  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Cfomish  mission ;  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Waters,  O.S.B., 
claimed  the  maintenance  of  a  missioner  in  Cornwall ;  and  with  a  well- 


22  CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN 

concerted  and  cogent  memorial  presented  authentic  certificates  of  the 
yearly  payment  of  such  maintenance  up  to  the  year  1773.  The  answer 
of  Car<final  Corsini,  approred  of  hy  the  Congregation  de  Propagand&, 
was,  that  the  funds  had  heen  ruined ;  but  if  the  bishop  of  the  western 
district  desired  some  help  for  sending  a  boy  to  the  English  college  at 
Rome*  it  would  be  bestowed  upon  him." 

I  pass  by,  for  want  of  sufficient  information^  the  Kirk- 
hams  of  Blagdon^  Pincoort^  and  Bidwell ;  the  Reynolds  of 
Pinhoe ;  the  Borlases  of  Treluddra ;  the  Giffards  of  Halsbury ; 
the  PoUards  of  Horwood;  the  Fursdons  of  Fursdon;  the 
Rowes  of  Kingston;  the  Chesters  of  Bearscombe;  the 
Rowes  of  Endellion  and  Trevithick ;  the  Hannes  of  De- 
viock;  the  Trevanions,  a  branch  of  the  Dennis^  family; 
the  Knights  of  Axminster  and  Comb-pyne;  and  some  few 
others, — to  invite  a  brief  attention  to  the  Cliffords. 

This  ancient  family  returned  to  the  faith  of  its  forefathers 
in  the  person  of  Thomas,  the  Lord  Treasurer  Clifford,  early 
in  1672.  As  late  as  17th  July,  1671,  he  had  procured 
Dr.  Anthony  Sparrow,  the  Protestant  bishop  of  Exeter,  to 
dedicate  and  consecrate  a  domestic  chapel  at  Ugbrooke, 
70  feet  long  and  30  broad,  with  a  cemetery  84  feet  long 
and  24  broad.  What  led  to  his  conversion,  I  cannot 
pretend  to  discover;  but  Lord  Shaftesbury  had  purposely 
contrived  the  Test  Act  to  exclude  him  and  the  duke  of  York 
from  the  cabinet.  To  use  the  words  of  King  James  II.  (see 
the  Life  of  thatt  Sovereign  compiled  from  the  Stuart  MSS. 
in  1816,  vol.  i.  p.  484),  "This  new  Test  had  the  effect  in 
outing  Lord  Clifford  of  the  place  of  Lord  Treasurer  of 
England,  and  of  being  any  longer  a  privy  councillor,  who, 
though  a  new  convert,  generously  preferred  his  conscience  to 
his  interest.'*  The  noble  lord  died  at  Ugbrooke  on  17th 
October,  1673,  and,  as  the  Chudleigh  parochial  register 
testifies,  "  was  buried  the  19th  day  of  October  in  his  owne 

*  In  the  History  of  the  English  Friars  Minors  hy  Davenport,  who 
lived  for  a  time  in  the  diooeee  of  Exeter,  I  read  in  pase  66 : — "  Frater 
Dennis  sen  Georgius  Dionysii,  generosA  famitia  Catholic^  in  comitatu 
Devoniensi  prognatus,  olim  in  obsidione  et  interceptione  Bolonise  sub 
Henrico  Octavo  JFtegiusVexiilifer,  ante  Ordinis  Sancti  Francisci  ultimam 
suppressionem,  sub  Mari&  (ut  /rater  ^ug  nMlis,  totus  plenus  dierum 
et  bonorum  opemm,  ante  quadraginta  plus  minus  annos  ooculatus 
rerum  Testis  hsec  mM  retulit)  Grenovici  habitum  nostrum  suscepit  et 
Novitius  existens  quod  singularem  denotat  fervorem  una  cum  Patribus 
ad  extcras  nationes  (Belgium^  cum  habitu  evolavit,  et  e  Brabantil^ 
Leodium  se  conferens,  apud  Nostros  diu  post  Professionem  mortuus, 
sepultus  est  in  Ambitu  ;  cujus  Epltaphium,  jam  ablatum,  ibi  Vidi." 

Tlie  book  was  printed  at  Douay  in  1665.  Q.  Was  not  the  informant 
Sir  Thomas  D.,  son  of  the  Sir  Robert,  who  died  at  Bicton,  4th  September, 
1592? 


DEVONSHIRB   AND   CORNWALL.  28 

cbappell/'  His  honoured  widow  sumved  until  2l8t  Septem- 
ber^ 1709^  set.  eighty.  She  was  a  pious  Catholic^  and^  as 
such,  is  shamefully  belied  by^he  fanatical  minister  John 
Whittle,  in  page  45  of  what  he  caUs  his  "  Exact  Diary  of  the 
late  Expedition  of  his  illustrious  Highness  the  Prince  of 
Orange  into  England.'' 

**  From  Newton  the  army  passed  by  a  Popish  lady's  house,  which 
was  cruel  to  all  her  Protestant  tenants :  she  forced  some  to  turn  Papists 
or  apostates.  But  bad  the  French  king's  army  passed  thus  by  a 
Protestant  house^  it  should  soon  have  been  fired,  the  people  put  to  the 
sword,  or  burnt.  But  we  have  not  so  learned  Christ ;  nor  ueen  thus 
taught  by  his  ministers  in  our  land  :  for  no  man  molested  this  house ; 
nor  did  anv  visit  it,  unless  a  captain  and  some  gentlemen,  which  would 
have  bought  themselves  horses  there ;  having  lost  their  own  at  sea,  and 
so  constrained  to  walk  on  foot  till  they  could  supply  themselves  with 
more.'* 

Hugh^  the  second  Lord  Clifford^  in  the  year  1715^  as  a 
suspected  friend  of  the  House  of  Stuart^  was  placed  under 
the  surveillance  of  an  officer  appointed  by  the  new  dynasty. 
In  ''  The  Protestant  Mercury,"  or  "  The  Exeter  Post-Boy/' 
Friday,  December,  16th,  1715, 1  read,  "The  Lord  Clifford, 
who  has  been  for  some  time  in  custody,  is  ordered  up  to 
town."  Most  probably  he  was  set  at  liberty  when  the  alarm 
of  invasion  had  subsided.  "  In  him,"  says  the  biographer 
Prince,  "  all  the  honours  and  virtues  of  his  noble  ancestors 
seem  to  have  been  epitomized."  In  the  generous  preference 
of  conscience  to  interest,  his  descendants  have  continued 
immovable,  though  they  have  witnessed  many  families  and 
friends  bending  the  knee  to  Baal.  In  return  for  such 
fidelity,  the  blessing  of  Heaven  visibly  rests  upon  them ; — 
they  rejoice  in  their  children ;  they  depart  in  peace ;  they 
are  acceptable  to  God  and  to  man,  and  to  all  that  dwell  in 
the  land.  In  the  language  of  the  canticle,  the  writer  offers 
them  his  best  wishes :  "  Qui  diligunt  te,  sicut  sol  in  ortu  suo 
splendet,  ita  rutilent." — Judges  v.  31. 

In  concluding  this  chapter,  I  must  remind  the  reader, 
that  during  William  III.'s  reign  a  statistical  account  was 
taken,  by  royal  commission,  of  the  exact  number  of  Catholics 
in  England.  The  sum  total  was  reduced  by  the  desolating 
influence  of  the  penal  laws  to  27,696.  Of  this  number  but 
298  were  returned  in  the  Diocese  of  Exeter. — See  Dalrym- 
ple's  "  Memoirs,"  vol.  ii.  2nd  ed.  Appendix  to  Part  II.  The 
"  Ann.  Lit.  S.J."  in  1710  states,  "  Pauci  hie  Catholici  et  fere 
pauperes." 


24  8TATK   OF    RELIGION    IN 


CHAPTER  III. 

THX  ACTUAL  8TATB  OF  RBLIOION  IN  DBTONSHIRB  AHD  CORNWALL. 

In  forming  the  comparison  and  contrast  of  the  state  of  reli- 
gion withm  the  diocese  of  Exeter  (which  includes  Devonshire 
and  Cornwall),  between  the  former  and  the  present  times,  we 
have  to  mourn  oyer  the  pillage  and  destruction  of  the  records 
and  memorials  of  Catholic  affairs,  which  perished  irrecover- 
ably in  June,  1780,  when  the  rioters  attacked  and  burnt 
Bishop  Walmesley's  house  in  Bell-tree  Lane,  Bath. 

After  Lanheme,  the  oldest  mission  in  Cornwall,  and 
Arlington,  the  oldest  in  Devonshire,  we  believe  that  Tor 
Abbey  and  Ugbrooke  must  take  precedence  in  point  of  time. 
Formerly  the  missionary  priests  were  fortunate  to  find  an 
asylum  where  to  rest  their  heads, — they  were  contented  with 
a  bare  subsistence.  Most  of  them  had  no  fixed  abode ;  the 
conveniences  of  licensed  places  of  worship,  with  contiguous 
residences  and  regular  stipends,  and  schools  for  instructing 
their  poor,  were  unknown.  In  order  to  elude  the  vigilance 
of  scouts  and  persecutors,  they  had  to  make  their  rounds  to 
the  houses  of  the  faithful  under  the  cover  of  the  midnight 
darkness ;  they  were  necessitated  to  assume  different  names, 
to  disguise  their  persons,  to  submit  to  irksome  solitude,  to 
many  slights,  frequent  denials  of  admission, — ''propter 
metum  Judaeorum,'' — in  fine,  they  were  doomed  to  live  in 
perpetual  hazard  of  life  and  liberty.  Though  their  course 
was  splendid  in  the  sight  of  God  and  His  angels,  it  was 
abject  and  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  worldlings.  These 
industrious  labourers  in  the  vineyard  of  souls  died  neglected 
and  forgotten ;  we  rarely  meet  with  a  grave-stone  to  record 
where  they  rested  from  their  earthly  labours;  but  their 
names  are  written  in  heaven.  The  charitable  zeal  of  these 
pastors — the  fervour  and  spirit  of  sacrifice  in  the  breasts  of 
their  dutiful  children — may  vie  with  the  example  of  the 
primitive  days  of  Christianity.  We  cannot  think  of  the 
perpetual  dangers,  privations,  and  sufferings  of  these  soldiers 
df  Christ  without  tears. 

Tor  Abbey. — In  all  probability  a  priest  was  attached  to 
the  Cary  family  soon  after  the  restoration  of  monarchy ;  but 
the  ease  and  independence  of  the  pastor  must  have  received 


DEVON8HIBB   AND   CORNWALL.  25 

oonsiderBble  improvement  from  the  liberality  of  the  Rev. 
John  Leuns,  who  had  been  chaplain  for  some  time.  In  the 
second  volume  of  this  work  I  shall  give  his  biography. 
At  present  suffice  it  to  say,  that  he  was  buried  at  Tor 
Mohun,  on  20th  April,  1709,  and  that  his  will  was  proved 
in  the  bishop  of  Exeter's  Registry  Court,  on  9th  May 
following. 

Divine  service  continued  to  be  performed  in  an  upper 
room  of  Tor  Abbey  until  the  year  1779,  when  George  Gary, 
Esq.,  fitted  up  the  old  refectory  of  the  Norbertine  canons, — 
a  lofty  room,  and  52  feet  long,  by  25  wide, — for  a  very 
respectable  chapel.  But  the  present  and  seventh  representa- 
tive of  the  family,  Robert  Sheddon  Sulyarde  Gary,  Esq., 
generously  gave  a  most  eligible  site  of  three-quarters  of  an 
acre  for  a  new  church,  which  my  reverend  friend  Canon 
Maurice  Power  undertook  to  erect.  The  first  stone  was 
laid  April  4th,  1858.  This  edifice  is  an  ornament  to  the 
vicinity,  and  was  solemnly  consecrated  by  the  Bight  Rev. 
Dr.  Errington,  Bishop  of  Plymouth,  on  17th  February, 
1854. 

Ugbrooke. — St.  Cyprian's  chapel  here  was  dedicated  to 
Protestant  worship  by  Dr.  Anthony  Sparrow,  Lord  Bishop 
of  Exeter,  on  the  17th  July,  1671 ;  but,  since  the  recon- 
ciliation of  the  family  to  the  Ghurch,  it  has  been  conse- 
crated to  Gatholic  rites,  and  has  been  enlarged  and  decorated. 
Within  its  walls  the  first  diocesan  synod  of  the  see  of 
Plymouth  was  held  on  February  7,  1854. 

Eweter  was  the  next  established  mission.  In  page  14  I 
have  aUuded  to  the  demolition  of  its  chapel  by  the  partisans 
of  the  Revolution,  and  of  this  I  shall  have  to  speak  more 
amply  in  the  biography  of  its  incumbent,  the  Rev.  Richard 
Norria,  8.J.  From  poverty,  and  the  distraction  of  the  times, 
the  Catholics  in  this  city  and  neighbourhood  were  compelled 
to  be  satisfied  with  the  occasional  visits  of  an  itinerant  priest, 
and  for  many  years — certainly  from  1745 — divine  service 
was  cautiously  celebrated  in  an  upper  back  room  of  Mr. 
Flashman's  house,  commonly  called  King  John's  Tavern,  in 
South-street.  About  the  year  1763,  the  Jesuits  undertook  to 
provide  a  regular  incumbent,  viz.,  in  the  Rev.  William  Gilli- 
brand,  who  boarded  with  a  Mr.  Truscott,  in  Exe  Island,  now 
the  site  of  the  gas-works.  A  successor  of  his,  the  Rev.  John 
Edisford,  removed  the  chapel  from  South-street  to  Bartho- 
lomew-street for,  I  think,  about  two  years;  but  at  Ghristmas, 
1775,  a  lease  was  taken  of  the  south-east  part  of  the  capital 
mansion  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Nicholas,  and 
a  large  upper  chamber  was  easily  formed  into  a  chapel. 


26  8TATE   OF   BEUOION   IN 

Within  thirteen  yean  these  rented  premiseB  were  purchased, 
and  then  a  substantial  chapel  in  the  garden  was  determined 
upon.  The  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  6th  May,  1790, 
and  on  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  1792,  Mass  was  first  cele- 
brated in  this  respectable  place  of  worship.  On  the  19th  of 
June,  1854,  the  preparatory  work  for  the  handsome  poor- 
school  commenced.  Bishop  Errington  laid  its  foundation- 
stone  on  7th  July,  1854,  and  it  was  opened  with  becoming 
honour  on  Tuesday,  16th  January,  1855 ;  and  now  the 
chapel  is  undergoing  considerable  enlargement.     Profieiat  I 

Plymouth. — Here  the  faithfu]  were  in  a  worse  condition 
than  their  brethren  in  Exeter.  The  charitable  heart  of  that 
venerable  benefactor  to  religion,  Rowland  Conyers,  Esq.  (who 
lived  till  28th  April,  1803,  aged  seventy-nine),  was  moved  with 
compassion  at  witnessing  their  disconsolate  condition,  and  he 
provided  funds  to  maintain  a  priest  both  for  them  and  for 
the  seafaring  Catholics  who  frequented  the  port  of  Dartmouth. 
His  foundation,  however,  for  the  latter  place  was  transferred, 
about  the  year  1820,  to  Weymouth,  of  which  more  in  the 
sequel  of  this  work. 

The  zealous  pastor  at  Plymouth,  Jean  Louis  Guilbert,  then 
felt  encouraged  to  undertake  the  erection  of  a  public  chapel, 
in  lieu  of  the  room  over  a  stable  in  the  back  of  the  George 
Inn,  Devonport.  Having  obtained  a  central  situation  near 
the  Marine  Hospital  at  Stonehouse,  between  Devonport  and 
Plymouth,  the  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  28th  May,  1806, 
for  St.  Mar}r's  chapel,  with  an  adjoining  presbytere  and 
school,  and  on  20th  December,  1807,  Mass  was  celebrated  in 
that  sacred  edifice.  At  a  later  period  the  Bev.  Henry  Riley 
enlarged  and  improved  it,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  pre- 
mises ;  and  since  October,  1851,  St.  Mary^s  has  been  raised 
to  the  rank  of  a  cathedral,  which  has  now  (since  6th  December, 
1853)  a  chapter  of  eight  canons  attached  to  it.  The  foun- 
dation of  a  cathedral  was  laid  28th  June,  1856. 

AwmtMier. — Some  time  after  John  Knight,  Esq.,  formerly 
of  Cannington,  had  effected  the  purchase  of  Hilary  House 
(late  Mr.  Colltaret's),  in  Axminster,  A.D.  1763,  he  fitted  up 
a  decent  apartment  in  the  mansion,  which  continued  to  be 
used  by  a  small  but  increasing  congregation,  until  the  present 
church,  dedicated  to  Our  Lady,  was  opened  for  public  worship 
on  15th  August,  1831,  principally  through  the  instrumen- 
tality and  support  of  his  pious  son,  Henry  Knight,  Esq.,'**' 
whom  may  God  long  preserve ! 

•  His  father,  John  Knight,  Esq.,  died  14th  June,  1801,  set.  69.  His 
late  brother  William,  born  3rd  Mav,  1703,  died  at  Hilary  House, 
3rd  December,  1849,  »t.  77. 


DSYONSHIIUB  AND   COBNWALL.  27 

Calvefleigh  and  Thertan.  —  I  have  already  related  the 
defection  of  John  Palmer  Chichester^  Esq.^  and  in  conse* 
quence  the  breaking  up  of  the  Arlington  mission.  Joseph 
Nagle,  Esq.^  who  had  purchased  the  Calverleigh  estate  some 
years  before,  and  had  engaged  the  Bey.  Philip  Compton  for 
his  chaplain,  now  invited  the  Rev.  Henry  Innes,  the  last 
priest  at  Arlington,  to  succeed  that  reverend  gentleman,  who 
retired  firom  missionary  duty.  The  venerable  patron  con- 
tinued to  maintain  a  chaplain  tmtil  his  happy  death,  on  29th 
January,  1813,  »t.  eighty-nine.  His  nephew-in-law,  Charlte 
Joseph  Chichester,  Esq.  (brother  to  the  aforesaid  John  Palmer 
Chichester  of  Arlington),  who  inherited  the  estate,  pursued 
the  same  course.  One  of  these  ecclesiastics,  the  Rev.  Jean 
Marc  Moutier,  a  gentleman  of  fortune,  foreseeing,  in  the 
precarious  state  of  Mr.  Chichester's  health,  the  dispersion  of 
the  family  in  the  event  of  his  death,  and  the  closing  of  the 
chapel  at  Calverleigh,  generously  undertook  the  perpetual 
endowment  of  a  mission  in  the  adjoining  parish  of  Tiverton ; 
but  he  died  on  15th  April,  1888,  «t.  sixty-six,  four  years 
before  Mr.  Chichester.  In  conformity  with  his  intentions, 
a  convenient  site  was  purchased  at  Shillands  on  14th  June, 
1836,  for  a  church,  school,  and  presbytere.  The  first 
stone  of  the  sacred  edifice  was  laid  by  Bishop  Baines,  on 
Tuesday,  6th  September,  1836.  On  7th  May,  1838,  the 
Bev.  Thomas  Costello  was  enabled  to  remove  firom  Cal- 
verleigh into  the  new  premises.  Mass  was  first  celebrated 
in  the  school-room  on  Sunday,  13th  May ;  and  St.  John's 
church  was  opened  for  pubUc  worship  by  that  reverend 
gentleman  on  Whit-Sunday,  the  19th  of  May,  1839.  I  re- 
gret to  add,  that  by  mismanagement  of  affairs,  the  inten- 
tions and  express  wishes  of  the  founder  of  the  Tiverton 
mission  have  been  carried  out  in  a  very  xmsatisfactory 
manner;  but  I  hope  that  justice,  though  tardy,  will  be 
accomplished. 

FoUafon,  near  Totnes.  — The  late  Edward  Cary,  Esq., 
having  purchased  this  estate  in  1788,  on  deciding  to  make 
it  his  residence,  invited  the  Bev.  Charles  Timings,  who 
since  March,  1782,  had  visited  the  faithful  dispersed  in 
Dartmouth,  Kingston,  Totnes,  and  the  wide  region  of  the 
South  Hams,  to  take  up  his  abode  with  him.  He  accepted 
the  proposal,  and  retained  the  situation  of  chaplain  from 
the  29th  November,  1801,  until  his  death,  8th  December, 
1832,  act.  seventy-five.  The  family  still  provides  a  priest  to 
ofiSciate  at  the  mansion-house. 

Tawstock.  —  Sir  Bourchier  Wrey,  the  seventh  baronet, 
dying  on  20th  November,  1826,  set.  seventy,  his  eldest  son. 


JCH  STATE   OF   RELIGION    IN 

Bourchier  Palk  Wrey,  succeeded  to  the  title  and  estate. 
This  gentleman  had  married  a  Catholic  widow^  and^  though 
a  member  of  the  Church  of  England^  readily  afforded  every 
facility  to  his  lady  and  their  three  daughters  to  practise  the 
Catholic  religion.  Settling  at  Tawstock,  he  procured  for 
them^  in  July,  1827,  a  Catholic  chaplain,  fitted  up  ii\  the 
house  a  convenient  and  spacious  oratory,  and  also  furnished 
a  poor-school.  In  this  domestic  chapel  Bishop  Baines,  on 
26th  August,  1882,  administered  confirmation  to  twenty 
persons;  and  Bishop  Baggs,  on  22nd  September,  1844,  to 
twenty-two. 

But  as  the  tenure  of  this  mission  is  precarious,  depending 
solely  on  the  baronet^s  life,  he  purchased,  in  1843,  firom 
Charles  Roberts,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  £160,  a  desirable  site 
in  Barnstaple  for  a  church,  priesf  s  house,  and  school.  The 
foundation  was  laid  for  a  church  of  80  by  80  feet ;  but  a 
combination  of  circumstances  prevented  the  completion  of 
the  buildings  until  lately.  On  the  24th  October,  1855,  the 
church  was  dedicated,  and  the  next  day  solemnly  opened  by 
Archbishop  Errington  and  Bishop  Vaughan,  assisted  by  nine 
priests. 

Yealmpton. — About  the  time  that  England  was  maddened 
with  the  *'  No  Popery ''  cry,  November,  1850,  renewed  by 
the  restitution  of  the  hierarchy,  that  calm  observer  and 
sincere  inquirer  after  truth,  Edmund  Rodney  PoUexfen 
Bastard,  of  Kitley,  Esq.,  received  the  light  of  Catholic  faith. 
Some  months  later  he  assisted  at  the  solemn  consecration  by 
Cardinal  Wiseman  of  Dr.  George  Errington,  appointed  the 
new  bishop  of  Plymouth,  at  St.  John's  cathedral,  Salford, 
on  25th  July,  1851 ;  and  he  accompanied  his  lordship 
into  Ids  diocese,  entertaining  him  honourably  at  Kitley 
until  the  middle  of  October,  when  the  worthy  prelate  was 
enabled  to  take  up  his  quarters  at  St.  Mary's,  Stonehouse. 
In  his  pious  zeal,  this  new  convert  obtained  a  chaplain  in 
the  person  of  the  learned  and  Very  Rev.  John  Brande 
Morris,  who  had  some  years  before  embraced  the  Catholic 
faith.  And,  to  extend  the  blessing  of  true  religion,  he 
converted  a  handsome  structure,  near  Yealmpton  parish 
church,  originally  intended  by  him  for  a  parochial  school, 
into  a  Catholic  church.  There  Mass  was  first  celebrated  on 
Sunday,  4th  July,  1852  j  and  I  pray  to  Heaven  that  through 
the  apostolic  exertions  of  his  minister,  '^aperiat  Dominus 
gentibus  ostium  fidei.^' — Acts  xiv.  26. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  to  regret  that  this 
honoured  patron  of  religion  has  been  taken  away  I     lie  was 


DEVONSHIRE  AND   CORNWALL.  29 

bom  7th  September,  1825 ;  married  Florence  Mary  Scroope, 
of  the  ancient  family  of  Danby,  November,  1853 :  ob.  12tlL 
June,  1856. 

Teignmouih. — For  many  years  back  some  families  of  the 
faithful  were  scattered  here,  and  at  Shaldon,  Dawlish,  and 
Newton.  Two  French  priests,  Messrs.  Le  PrStre  and  Le 
Verrier,  successively,  until  their  return  to  France  (the  former 
after  the  peace  of  Amiens,  the  latter  at  the  restoration  of 
the  Bourbons),  celebrated  mass  in  a  hired  apartment  at 
Teignmouth.  For  a  short  period  much  later,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Campbell  Smith,  during  their  residence  at  Dawlish,  provided 
a  room  in  their  house  for  the  convenience  of  divine  worship, 
when  the  priest  from  Ugbrooke  could  attend.  But  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Sacraments  and  the  comfort  of  public  worship, 
most  of  this  dispersed  portion  of  the  flock  had  to  direct  their 
steps  towards  Ugbrooke.  The  Bev.  Charles  Lomaz,  com- 
miserating their  necessity,  in  the  abundance  of  his  zeal  and 
charity,  hired  a  decent  room  in  West  Teignmouth,  and  mul* 
tiplied  himself,  as  it  were,  to  impart  to  them  the  benefit  of  his 
spiritual  functions.  On  3rd  April,  1848,  he  celebrated  mass 
therein  for  the  first  time ;  and  so  great  was  his  success,  that 
he  determined  to  look  out  for  a  convenient  site,  erect  a 
public  church,  and  endow  a  new  mission.  The  Hon.  William 
Stourton  subscribed  the  price  of  the  ground  already  pur- 
chased, the  foundation-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  on 
13th  July,  1854,  and  the  edifice,  after  a  design  of  Mr.  C. 
Hansom,  was  solemnly  opened  by  Bishop  Errington  on 
19th  December,  1854.  On  28rd  December,  the  Rev.  Henry 
Brigham,  S.J.,  was  installed  the  regular  pastor,  and  I 
anticipate  a  briUiant  prospect  to  religion  from  his  missionary 
services. 

It  is  now  time  to  direct  attention  to  Cornwall.  And 
in  the  first  place  I  must  notice  Lanheme,  in  Gwythian,  alias 
St.  Mawgan's  parish  and  deanery  of  Pydre.  The  generality 
of  my  readers  may  not  be  aware  that  the  ArundeUs,  from 
time  immemorial,  held  the  manor  of  Lanheme,  by  military 
service,  of  the  see  of  Exeter  (see  Bp.  Stapeldon's  Register, 
fol.  102 — 105;  and  Bp.  Brantyngham's  Register,  vol.  i. 
fol.  131),  and  that  a  chapel  or  oratory  was  licensed  for  the 
family^s  convenience  at  a  remote  period. 

Amidst  the  changes  of  religion  and  of  governments,  the 
Arundells  stood  forward  as  the  unflinching  abettors  of  the 
ancient  faith;*  and  ever  amidst  all  the  dangers  and  terrors  of 

*  As  mentioned  in  p.  16,  a  member  of  this  family,  Humphry 


80  STATE   OF   RELIGION   IN 

persecation,  a  priest  was  to  be  fotmd  at  Lanherne.  But  the 
house  had  been  only  occasionally  inhabited  by  members  of 
the  family  for  nearly  a  century  before  the  French  Bevolution. 
When  the  English  Sepulchran  nuns  had  determined  to 
emigrate  from  Liege^  and  before  they  reached  England  in 
July,  1794,  Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell,  offered  them 
Lanheme-house  for  an  asylum;  but  this  with  many  expres- 
sions of  gratitude  they  respectfully  declined,  as  its  sequestered 
situation  would  have  proved  too  inconvenient  for  their  far- 
famed  school  *  for  the  education  of  Catholic  young  ladies.  The 
noble  lord  then  offered  the  premises  to  the  English  Theresian 
nuns  of  Antwerp,  who  gratefolly  accepted  them.  They 
entered  this  comfortable  refuge  in  Augast,  1794.  The 
history  of  this  convent  will  be  given  in  another  part  of  this 
compilation.  I  shall  only  add,  that  the  domestic  chapel 
was  soon  found  to  be  much  too  small  for  their  community 
and  for  the  congregation,  and  the  great  saloon  was  in  conse- 
quence devoted  to  the  purposes  of  divine  worship  on  Easter 
Sunday,  1797. 

Falmouth. — ^This  mission  was  also  founded  by  the  charitable 
Rowland  Conyers,  Esq.,  who  died  on  28th  April,  1803,  as 
stated  under  Plymouth.  As  soon  as  Bishop  Sharrock  was 
capable  of  procuring  a  proper  incumbent,  he  stationed 
F.  Ignatius  Casemore,  O.S.F.,  in  the  place.  A  private  room 
served  for  a  chapel  from  January,  1805,  until  L'Abbe  Orezille 
erected  the  present  chapel  and  house.  The  foundation-stone 
was  laid  on  2lBt  February,  1819 ;  and  on  24th  October,  1821, 
St.  Mary's  was  opened  with  due  solemnity.  It  should  be 
recorded  to  the  Abba's  honour,  that  he  collected,  chiefly 
among  the  royd  family  of  France,  the  sum  of  500/.  towards 

Anmdell,  of  Helland,  Eaq.,  ^yemor  of  St.  Michael's  Mount,  songht 
to  restore  religion  by  rebellion  in  1549.  After  his  conviction  and 
executioxi,  his  estates  were  given,  6th  March,  1560,  by  Edward  Yl.,  to 
Sir  Guarin  Carew,  Knight. 

*  These  communities  are  fonned  of  gentlewomen  of  high  birth  and 
accomplished  manners,  who  devote  themselves  to  Grod  and  the  Christian 
training  of  youth,  firom  the  purest  and  noblest  of  motives ;  and  there- 
fore are  entitled  to  the  respect  and  support  of  aU  lovers  of  morality  and 
religion.  To  me,  a  convent  education  has  always  appeared  the  safest 
and  the  very  best.  St.  Jerome,  in  his  advice  to  Lseta  concerning  her 
daughter  Paula,  expressly  says,  **  Nutriatur  in  Monasterio :  sit  inter 
Virj^um  choros:  cert^  te  hberet  servandi  difficultate,  et  custodie 
periculo.  Melius  tibi  est  desiderare  absentem,  quam  pavere  ad  singula, 
quid  loquatur,  cui  annuat,  quern  libenter  anpiciat."  I  can  never  forget 
hearing  the  late  venerable  and  experienced  Lady  Clifford  exclaim  at 
Uffbrooke,  on  26th  February,  1824,  **  I  thank  God,  every  day  of  my 
life,  that  I  was  brought  up  in  a  convent." 


DEVONSHIRE  AND   CORNWALL.  31 

this  pious  undertaking.  All  went  on  prosperously  for  some 
years,  when  Bishop  Baines  was  induced  to  make  over  the 
place  to  the  Redemptorists.  Their  provincial,  F.  Frederick 
Held,*  on  16th  June,  1843,  arrived  with  two  of  his  religious, 
Louis  Buggenoms  and  Prosper  Augustin  Xavier  Lempfrid, 
in  priest's  orders,  to  conduct  the  mission.  Soon  after,  the 
provincial  quitted  for  London ;  and  another  of  his  order, 
the  Bev.  F.  Wladimir  Petcherine,  an  excellent  preacher,  was 
sent  down.  At  Easter  seventy^six  commimicants  were  num- 
bered at  Falmouth.  Moreover,  through  them  a  filiation  of 
six  sisters  of  Notre  Dame  of  Namur  was  established  at 
Penryn,  on  15th  November,  1845,  who  after  some  time 
opened  a  boarding-school,  a  day-school,  and  a  charity-school, 
all  perfectly  distinct.  Bright  prospects  for  religion  in  be- 
nighted Cornwall  were  anticipated,  when  it  appears  that 
Clapham  held  out  much  greater  encouragement  to  these 
Bedemptorists ;  and,  alas !  on  1st  September,  1848,  Falmouth 
lost  the  benefit  of  their  services. 

The  Foundation  Fund,  I  apprehend,  suffered  injury  in 
a  certain  quarter ;  but  I  understand  that  a  respected  gentle- 
man of  the  name  of  Andrew  has  given  his  liberal  support 
to  the  mission.     May  God  reward  him  I 

Penzance. — ^In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1837,  an  attempt 
was  made  to  secure  the  services  of  the  Bev.  William  Ivers, 
by  the  pious  zeal  of  several  Irish  travellers  and  labourers  in 
and  around  Penzance;  but  after  a  few  months'  trial,  the 
failure  of  funds  compelled  the  rev.  gentleman  to  retire,  and 
leave  these  poor  soula  to  depend,  as  before,  on  the  occasional 
idsits  of  the  pastor  at  Falmouth.  Their  forlorn  condition 
excited  the  compassion  of  that  energetic  man  of  God,  the 
Bev.  William  Young,  then  stationed  at  Lanheme.  On 
Monday,  20th  July,  1840,  he  quitted  that  comfortable  situa- 
tion to  labour  in  this  wider  vineyard ;  where  he  commenced 
the  spacious  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  ninety 
feet  long  by  thirty  feet  wide,  and  fiftv-four  feet  high,  with 
school-rooms  under;  the  granite  side  walls  of  the  nave 
having  arches  so  formed  as  to  admit  of  being  opened  into 
aisles,  when  the  increasing  numbers  of  the  congregation  may 
require  it.    The  apostoUc  man  had  the  consolation  of  wit- 

*  This  venerable  gentleman  was  bom  in  imperial  Vienna  17th  July, 
1799 ;  was  professed  in  the  order  2nd  August,  1820 ;  ordained  priest 
23rd  AugusC  182S,  and  made  Liege  his  head-quarters.  N.B.  From  a 
letter  of  Bishoi)  Baines,  written  in  the  middle  of  March,  1848,  it  appears 
that  his  lordship  contemplated  to  hand  over  **  the  management  of  the 
Cornish  niJBsions  to  foreign  religious.'* 


82  STATE  OF   RELIGION    IN 

nessing  this  best  ecclesiastical  fabric  in  the  diocese  of  Ply* 
mouth  opened  with  much  solemnity  on  26th  October^  1843. 
Besides  this^  he  built  a  good  house  for  the  incumbent.  In 
an  evil  hour,  unfortunately,  he  surrendered  the  whole  pro- 
perty, without  taking  proper  precautions,  into  the  hands  of 
the  Conceptionists  recently  imported  from  Marseilles.  A 
very  young  superior,  in  a  wild  speculation  of  forming  an 
establishment  at  Ashbourne,  most  unadvisedly  and  uncanoni- 
cally  mortgaged  the  whole  of  these  premises,  which  were 
advertised  to  be  sold  by  auction  on  Monday,  27th  September, 
1852.  Thuik  Ood,  on  the  day  of  the  sale,  the  new  bishop 
of  Plymouth,  Dr.  Errington,  succeeded  in  saving  the  church 
at  least,  at  the  sacrifice  of  950/. 

Trelaumy. — My  readers  are  probably  aware  that  Sir  Harry 
Trelawny,  the  seventh  baronet,  after  an  eccentric  life,  found 
rest  in  the  bosom  of  the  holy  Catholic  Churchy  and  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four,  was  admitted  to  the  priesthood  by 
Cardinal  Odesodchi,  on  SOth  May,  1830 ;  and,  finally,  died 
at  Lavino  on  25th  February,  1834.  His  daughters,  Ann 
Letitia,  a  spinster,  and  Mary,  wife  of  John  C.  Harding,  Esq., 
had  long  been  Catholics.  They  had  turned  the  old  domestic 
chapel  at  Trelawny,  dedicated  on  23rd  November,  1701,  by 
their  ancestor.  Dr.  John  Trelawny,  then  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
into  a  Catholic  chapel.  But  of  late  years  they  have  built  a 
place  for  Catholic  worship  at  Sclerder,  about  haJf  a  mile  from 
the  mansion. 

Bodmin. — The  Rev.  William  Young,  who  deserves  the 
name  of  the  apostle  of  Cornwall,  purchased  premises  in  this 
ancient  town,  and  actually  opened  a  chapel  there  in  honour 
of  his  patroness,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  on  24th  September, 
1846.  For  a  time  he  served  it  himself;  but  was  obliged  to 
leave  it  after  some  time.  The  Rev.  ^milius  Fieldell  followed 
for  a  short  period.  The  dear  good  founder  returned  again 
to  Bodmin  in  the  summer  of  1853 ;  and  it  was  dear  to  me, 
from  his  letter  of  the  16th  September  that  year,  that  his 
health  would  not  suffer  him  to  remain  much  longer. 

Camborne. — ^The  Conceptionist  Fathers  of  Penzance  began 
a  mission  here;  and  though  they  have  taken  French  leave  of 
Cornwall,  the  following  letter  of  a  good  Catholic  of  the 
neighbourhood,  dated  5th  April,  1853,  is  very  satisfactory. 
"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear,  that  now  we  have  got  at  Cam- 
borne a  regular  pastor,  and  muster  a  good  congregation,  to 
the  number  of  250,  if  they  all  attended.  They  are  chiefly 
of  the  labouring  class,  and  for  the  most  part  natives  of  the 
county  of  Cork.  We  are  much  indebted  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pike,  recent  converts,  for  the  accommodation  of  a  chapel, 


DEVONSHIRE   AND   CORNWALL.  33 

which  is  fitted  up  over  a  stable.  In  September  last^  we  were 
honoured  with  the  visit  of  Dr.  Errington,  the  Bishop  of  Ply* 
mouth,  who  administered  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  to 
about  thirty^six  persons.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pike  are  natives  of 
London;  have  lived  much  abroad,  particularly  at  Naples. 
He  is  extensively  concerned  in  the  Cornish  mines,  and  for  a 
time  was  auperintend^it  of  the  West  Cornish  railway.'^ 

I  must  not  forget  to  say,  that  a  priest  formwly  resided 
with  the  Coucbe  family  at  Tcihej,  netur  Fowey.  I  have 
heard  an  old  member  of  that  finmily  say  that  he  remembered 
the  venerable  Jesuit,  Father  Hayman,  who  died  at  their 
house  on  30th  April,  1756,  »t.  eighty-seven. 

In  viewing  this  blessed  change,  have  we  not  cause  to  raise 
up  our  hearts  and  lift  up  our  hands  on.  high,  and  bless  the 
Giver  of  all  good  gifts,  the  Arbiter  and  Disposer  of  human 
events,  for  reserving  us  for  these  peaceful  and  auspicious 
times?  Who  amongst  us  now  dreads  a  domestic  search? 
Who  feds  any  alarm  for  the  security  of  his  person,  or  pro* 
perty,  or  of  things  appertaining  to  the  divine  service? 
Instead  of  concealing  and  disguising  our  names,  we  fix  them 
on  our  gates :  instead  of  skulking  in  hiding^holes,  we  walk 
abroad  and  erect,  like  firee  men."^  We  meet  in  conferences 
and  synods,  whenever  and  wherever  we  please.  Instead  of 
worshipping  the  Ood  of  our  fathers  in  caves  or  in  garrets,  we 
court  the  most  eligible  and  conspicuous  situations  for  our 
chapels  and  churches ;  we  practise  our  religious  rites  in  the 
fiice  of  the  world.  Our  gentry  ane  invited  to  occupy  the 
magisterial  bepch — to  represent  large  constituencies  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  and  to  fill  the  office  of  High  Sheriff. 
Our  noble  peers,  who,  whilst  obnoxious  themselves  to  the 
severity  of  the  penal  laws,  and  were  denied  their  hereditary 
seats  in  the  House  of  Lords,  generously  threw  over  the 
clergy  and  their  flocks  the  mantle  of  protection,  are  welcomed 
to  the  restitution  of  their  constitutional  honours,  rights,  and 
privileges.  Instead  of  borrowing  a  smuggled  education 
abroad,  and  under  disguised  names,  our  numerous  colleges 
at  home  are  gaeetted,  as  associated,  by  royal  license,  to  the 
London  University.  We  fearlessly  register  and  tender  our 
votes  at  elections :  we  are  nominated  by  the  Lord  Chan- 
cdlor  as  trustees  of  the  public  charities.  Instead  of  laws 
nnd  proclamations  to  seize  crucifixes,  rosaries,  &c.,  and  to 
bum  Catholic  books,  we  freely  import,  circulate,  advertise, 

*  Mrs.  Lingard,  mother  of  the  late  hiBtorian,  remembered  when  her 
family  used  to  20  in  a  cart  at  night  to  hear  Mass,  the  priest  in  a  round 
frock  to  resemble  a  poor  man.  She  died  at  Winchester,  5th  August, 
1824^  aged  02, 

n 


34  STATE    or    RELIGION    IN    DEVONSHIRE^    ETC. 

and  publish  them.  Our  churches^  several  of  them  vying 
in  size  and  beauty  with  the  ancient  basilica  of  the  ooun- 
try^  are  rising  up  through  the  land^  and  are  eagerly 
tluronged  by  multitudes  of  proselytes  and  inquirers  after 
truth.  Our  bishops  in  the  colonies^  about  fifty^  are  patronized 
and  supported  in  a  great  degree  at  the  public  expense.  In 
fact^  in  none  of  the  Catholic  states  of  Europe  is  our  religion 
so  unfettered — ^is  theptUptt  so  free  and  independent — ^is  the 
discussion  of  our  religious  tenets  and  political  rights,  through 
the  medium  of  the  press,  so  distinctly  recognized  and  de- 
veloped. No  persons  are  more  respected  and  esteemed  in 
good  society  than  the  Catholic  clergy.  Ought  not  this 
pleasing  revolution  in  the  breasts  of  our  governors,  and  in 
the  minds  and  dispositions  of  our  neighbours  of  every  creed,  to 
attach  us  still  more  and  more  to  our  beloved  country? — make 
us  the  heralds  of  Loyalty,  Peace,  atid  Benevolence? — stre- 
nuous supporters  of  the  constituted  authorities?  Shall  it 
not  enkindle  the  discreetest  zeal  to  gain  the  hearts  of  our 
separated  brethren,  by  the  light  of  our  example,  by  the  fer- 
vour of  our  prayers,  and  to  attract  them  by  the  spirit  of  con- 
ciliation and  the  lenity  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  return  to  the  bosom 
of  their  holy  mother,  the  Catholic  Church,  to  share  in  her 
consolations  and  blessings  ? 

With  a  deep  sense  of  devotion,  let  us  unite  in  the  frequent 
repetition  of  the  collect  of  the  Church  in  the  Office  of  Tues« 
day  in  Passion  Week : — 

•'Da  nobis,  qusesumus  Domine,  perseverantem  in  tuft 
voluntate  famulatum;  ut  in  diebus  nostris,  et  Merito  et 
Numero  populus  Tibi  serviens  augeatur.'* 


35 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"JEsi  mihi  Suppliciumy  causa  ftdue  Pium.'* 

TUB  SUFFERERS   FOR  THE   FAITH   IN   DORSETSHIRE. 

Thb  Catholic  cause  was  honoured  in  Dorsetshire  by  the 
constancy  and  heroic  fidelity  of  its  votaries.  For  in  this 
county,  persecution  assumed  the  character  of  inhuman 
brutality.  Whoever  peruses  the  sufferings  of  some  of  its 
martyrs,  especially  of  FP.  Pilchard  and  Green,  might  sup- 
pose that  he  was  reading  the  bloody  feats  of  Indian  savages 
and  cannibals,  not  the  conduct  of  Englishmen  and  Christian 
Protestants. 

The  first  in  the  order  of  time,  who  shed  his  blood  and 
sacrificed  his  life  for  confessing  Christ,  was  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Pilchard.  Dr.  Challoner,  in  his  truth-telling  "  Memoirs  of 
Missionary  Priests,'^  could  glean  but  slender  information  of 
this  apostolical  man ;  but  from  a  MS.  of  his  early  friend  at 
college,  the  Rev.  William  Warford,  who  learnt  much  of  his 
subsequent  history  from  his  sister,  jand  others  of  his  kindred, 
persons  deserving  of  all  credit,  —  "  Haec  omnia  ex  sorore 
et  aliis  affinibus  viri,  hominibus  fide  dignissimis,  cognovi,'^ — 
I  am  happy  to  supply  the  following  particulars  : — 

"  I  knew  him  at  Oxford,  a  Fellow  of  Baliol  College,  and 
a  Master  of  Arts;  thence  he  went  to  Rhcims,  and  was 
ordained  priest,  where  I  lived  on  intimate  terms  with  him, 
in  1583.  He  gave  general  edification  by  his  singular 
modesty,  candour,  and  gravity,  and  his  exemplary  piety  at 
the  altar.  Returning  to  his  native  country,  he  conducted 
himself  in  so  commendable  a  manner,  that  I  knew  no  priest 
in  all  the  west  part  of  England  who  equalled  his  merits,  and 
to  this  day  his  memory  is  held  in  benediction  there.  By  his 
unwearied  zeal,  either  at  home,  on  his  journeys,  or  in  prison, 
he  gained  very  many  souls  to  God;  he  was  incessant  in 
preaching  the  divine  word,  and  in  administering  the  sacra- 
ments. Severe  to  himself,  he  was  accustomed,  when  in 
prison  and  in  irons,  to  lie  on  the  bare  floor ;  and  though  he 
had  the  convenience  of  a  bed,  he  willingly  parted  with  its 
use  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-captives  in  Dorchester  jail, 

D  2 


86  THB   SVFFBRERS    POR  THE 

80  that  he  gained  more  to  God  in  his  chains,  than  when  he 
enjoyed  his  freedom.  All  that  had  their  soul's  salvation  at 
heart  flocked  to  it;  no  one  quitted  his  company  without 
deriving  improvement  in  spirit.  By  his  engaging  meekness 
he  attracted  and  converted  the  felons  around  him ;  he  helped 
and  comforted  every  one ;  was  justly  regarded  as  the  oracle 
of  that  country ;  and  by  his  discretion,  and  presence  of  mind, 
and  firmness  of  purpose,  he  eluded  the  vigilance  of  the 
turnkeys. 

''Before  his  apprehension,  some  business  called  him  to 
London,  whither  he  was  accompanied  by  his  bosom  friend 
Mr.  Jessop,  a  worthy  Catholic  gentleman.  In  Fleet  Street, 
London,  he  was  recognized  by  one  who  knew  him  at  Oxford, 
who  consigned  him  over  to  the  officers  of  justice.  By  the 
constituted  authorities,  after  examination,  both  were  escorted 
to  Dorchester  jail  on  horseback,  with  their  hands  tied  behind 
them.  Condemnation  followed.  A  cook,  or  butcher,  was 
induced,  by  the  ofier  of  a  large  premium,  to  carry  the  seu« 
tence,  as  in  cases  of  treason,  into  execution.  Hardly  was 
the  priest  hung  up,  when  the  rope  was  cut,  and  the  holy 
man  rose  erect  on  his  feet.  The  hired  executioner  was  now 
called  on  to  do  his  office,  when  at  length,  like  a  desperate 
madman,  he  rushed  against  his  standing  victim,  and  plunging 
his  knife  into  the  belly,  there  left  it,  amidst  the  murmurs 
and  groans  of  the  bystanders.  In  the  mean  while  the  priest, 
perfectly  sensible,  and  seeing  himself  naked  and  horribly 
wounded,  turning  his  head  to  the  sheriff,  said,  '  Mr.  Sheriff, 
is  this  your  justice?'  Then  the  executioner,  summoning 
courage,  seizes  his  victim,  and,  dashing  him  on  the  ground, 
opens  the  whole  belly,  and  with  savage  brutality  tears  out 
the  bowels." 

F.  Warford  adds,  that  nearly  all  who  were  accessory  to 
F.  Pilchard's  death  fell  into  some  remarkable  calamity,  or 
came  to  an  untimely  end ;  that  he  suffered  on  2l8t  of  March, 
1587;  that  the  malefactor  who  died  with  him  was  his  con- 
vert ;  that  the  said  Mr.  Jessop  (who  had  attained  his  fortieth 
year)  died  shortly  after  in  Dorchester  jail,  and  was  buried 
privately  in  the  night-time,  at  his  own  express  desire,  near 
the  corpse  of  F.  Pilchard,  at  the  place  of  execution, — 
"proxime  ad  corpus  D.  Pilchardi  in  agris  in  loco  supplicii ; " 
and  that  William  Pike,  a  carpenter,  who  had  been  reconciled 
to  the  Church  by  the  zealous  father,  being  apprehended 
and  sentenced,  and  offered  his  life  if  he  would  recant, 
boldly  answered,  "  Such  an  act  would  ill  become  a  son  of 
Mr.  Pilchard,"  and  submitted  to  the  butchery : — "  Non  decere 
Domini  Pilchardi  filium  recantare;  et  patrem  martyrem  filius 


FAITH   IN   DORSETSHIRB.  87 

mar^  secntus  est.**  Dr.  Challoner,  in  the  ''Memoirs,^ 
&c.^  states,  from  a  MS.  of  Rev.  Mr.  Manger,  that  this 
heroic  layman  was  bom  in  Dorsetshire,  and  lived  in  a 
village  called  Moors,  in  the  parish  of  Parley ;  that  being  cut 
down  alive  from  the  gallows,  "  and  being  a  very  able,  strong 
man,  when  the  executioner  came  to  throw  him  on  the  block 
to  quarter  him,  he  stood  upon  his  feet;  whereupon  the 
sheriff's  men,  overmastering  him,  threw  him  down,  and 
pinned  his  hands  fast  to  the  ground  with  their  halberts,  and 
so  the  butchery  was  perfected,"  in  1591. 

In  another  MS.  I  find  that  about  the  year  1588,  ''at  Dor- 
chester, died  in  prison  an  old  priest  (whose  name  unfor- 
tunately is  not  given),  and  John  G^esope  (the  gentleman 
already  mentioned),  Mrs.  Tremain,  and  divers  others." 
I  learn  also  from  this  MS.  that  a  pious  Catholic  artisan, 
called  Morecock,  was  taken  on  a  Sunday  in  Dorsetshire,  by 
officers  in  search  of  a  priest  who  had  broken  out  of  prison, 
and  committed  to  jail,  where  he  died  before  the  year  1591. 

In  April,  1594,  P.  John  Cornelius,  of  whom  I  propose  to 
treat  amply  in  the  biographical  and  second  part  of  this 
work,  was  apprehended  in  his  hiding-hole  at  Chidiock 
Castle.*  After  eluding  a  diligent  search  of  the  sheriffs' 
officers  for  five  or  six  hours,  his  cough  at  length  led  to  his 
discovery,  as  I  find  in  a  MS.  of  Father  John  Gerard.  Mr. 
Thomas  Bosgrave,  a  relative  of  Mr.  Arundell,  and  two 
servants,  Terence  John  Cary  and  Patrick  Salmon  (who  are 
counted  but  as  one  by  Hutchins  in  his  '*  History  of  Dorset- 
shire," vol.  i.  p.  874),  were  committed  to  prison,  and  suffered 
death  with  him,  at  Dorchester,  on  4th  July  following.  A 
poor  malefEu^tor  whom  he  had  converted — executed  at  the 
same  time — declared  aloud,  he  was  a  happy  man  to  die  in 
such  good  company.  Two  facts  appear  to  have  been  unknown 
to  Dr.  Challoner  on  this  subject :  1st.  The  memorandum  of 
Richard  Verstegan,  the  antiquary  :  t  "  They  could  not  get  a 

*  Of  Chidiock  Castle  (at  the  foot  of  which  flows  the  brook  called 
Wynneford\  bo  long  the  asylum  of  religion  and  the  sanctuary  of 
loyalty,  hardly  a  vestige  remains.  An  inventory  taken  on  7th  Aueust, 
1088,  proves  that  it  was  of  considerahle  dimensions.  In  one  of  the 
towers  mention  is  made  of  ^^the  chamber  and  the  chapell  chamher/' 
The  gateway  was  taken  down  in  1741 :  a  tower  was  partially  standing 
in  1766.  T?he  site  is  called  «  The  Bmtu."  During  the  civU  wars  it 
was  regarded  as  a  position  of  importance.  Hutchms,  vol.  i.  Hist,  of 
Dorset,  p.  326,  does  justice  to  the  incorruptible  devotion  of  its  owner 
and  defenders  to  the  royal  cause.  **  Seven  of  the  neighbours,"  he  adds, 
**  had  their  estates  sequestered  in  1645 :  they  were  no  doubt  concerned 
in  defending  Chidiock  House,  and  were  thus  punished  for  their  loyalty.*' 

t  This  learned  Catholic  writer  thinks  that  F.  Cornelius  was  the 
author  of  the  foUowing  lines,  which  he  addressed  to  a  friend  from  his 


38  THE   SUFFERERS    FOR  THE 

cauldron  for  any  money  to  boyle  his  quarters  in^  nor  no  man 
to  quarter  him^  so  he  hanged  till  he  was  dead,  and  was  buried, 
being  cut  in  quarters  first/'  2nd.  That  although  it  be  correct 
that  his  quarters  were  exposed  upon  four  poles  for  a  time, 
and  his  head  nailed  to  the  gallows,  yet  it  is  a  fact,  that 
through  the  management  of  Lady  Arandell  the  quarters 
were  by  stealth  conyeyed  away,  and  honourably  disposed  of, 
— ''  fortim  sublata  et  honorificentius  coUata;''  and  that  the 
head  also  came  into  the  possession  of  Catholics, — "  caput 
etiam  venit  in  Catholicorum  potestatem/' 

In  the  "  Diary  of  Walter  Yonge,  from  1604  to  1628,'' 
recently  published  by  the  Camden  Society  (1848),  at  page  18 
we  read  the  following  account  of  a  priest  near  Chidiock. 

"  1608.  About  the  1st  of  August,  being  Sunday,  there 
was  a  priest  taken  at  Gabriers  (at  the  west  side  of  the 
Golden  Cap,  still  in  sight  of  Lyme),  at  one  Mr.  Flear's 
house.  His  apprehension  was  in  this  manner.  There  were 
sent  from  the  council  two  pursuivants  into  the  country, 
whereof  one  in  former  time  had  been  a  recusant,  and  lately 
revolted.  These  two  pursuivants,  riding  between  Axminster 
and  Chidiock,  fell  in  company  with  one  Austen,  then  school- 
master of  Chidiock ;  and  after  diverse  conference  between 
the  said  pursuivants  and  Austen,  he  confessed  that  there  was 
a  priest  at  Flear's  house ;  but  did  think  they  would  scarce 
see  him  if  they  came  thither.  Being  come  to  Axminster, 
the  pursuivants  committed  Austen,  and  one  other  with  him, 
to  Ilassell,  a  constable,  and  rode  to  Gabriel's ;  where,  after 
search  made,  they  found  the  priest  hidden  in  a  little  room  at 
the  top  of  the  house,  being  thatched,  and  under  the  thatch  a 
door  to  go  into  the  same ;  at  last,  having  apprehended  the 
priest,  Flear's  wife  offered  one  of  them  one  hundred  angeletts 
(<£25)  to  let  him  escape,  who  received  the  money,  and  pro- 
mised her  fair.  At  last,  his  companion  being  in  sight  (for  he 
was  gone  to  the  next  justice  when  this  proffer  was  made,  for 
a  warrant  to  commit  the  priest,  for  Flear  would  not  let  him 
depart  without  some  order  from  a  justice  of  peace),  he  told 
her  plainly  he  could  not  by  any  means  let  him  escape  with- 
out great  danger  to  himself;  and  so  took  hold  on  the  priest, 

prison  ;  but  the  four  last  were  composed  very  long  before  his  time.  I 
found  them  in  a  MS.  of  the  reign  of  our  King  Henry  IV. 

**  Alter  e^o  nisi  sis,  non  es  mihi  verus  amicus ; 
Ni  mihi  sis  ut  ego,  non  eris  alter  ego." 

**  Spernere  mundura,  spemere  nullum,  spernere  sese, 
Spernere  se  spcrni ;  quatuor  ista  beant 
Christe  tuos,  tua,  Te  gratis  accepimus  k  Te 
Ergo  meos,  mea,  me  nierito,  nunc  exigis  a  me." 


f  FAITH    IN    DOBSKTSHIBE.  3& 

and  carried  liim  awajj  with  his  hundred  angeletts^  which  she 
could  by  no  means  get  of  him  again/' 

For  the  atrocious  and  cold-blooded  execution  of  Bev. 
Hugh  Green,  alias  Ferdinand  Brooks  (yet  Hutchins  contents 
himself  with  saying,  "  the  priest  was  hanged  "),  at  Dorches- 
ter, on  19th  August,  1642,  ^et.  fifty-seven,  nearly  thirty 
years  of  which  he  had  exerdsed  his  functions  at  Chidiock, 
I  must  refer  my  readers  to  the  full  report  in  Dr.  Challoner'a 
'^  Memoirs/'  Yet  who  would  not  gladly  prefer  to  endure 
his  tragical  death — ^his  Maccabean  example  of  fortitude  and 
perseverance— to  the  infamy  of  living  Uke  that  Bev.  Arthur 
Browne,  a  seminary  priest,  condemned  with  him  at  Dor- 
chester, but  who  publicly  made  his  recantation.  I  have 
read,  with  disgust  mingled  with  pity,  that  unhappy  transac- 
tion, printed  in  London,  25th  August,  1642,  in  five  pages, 
quarto. 

I  purposely  reserve  for  the  biographical  part  of  this  work 
the  account  of  John  Mundyn,  of  Maperton,  in  Dorsetshire, 
who  suffered  martyrdom  at  Tyburn,  12th  February,  1584, 
and  of  Eustaohius  White,  who  glorified  Ood  by  his  blood  in 
the  same  spot,  10th  December,  1591,  having  been  taken  at 
Blandford,  on  the  prerious  1st  of  September.  In  Part  II. 
will  be  inserted  his  original  letter  of  23rd  November,  that 
year,  in  which  he  states  that  he  had  chiefly  laboured  amongst 
the  "  Catholiques  in  the  west  contrye." 

May  the  blood  of  these  holy  men  obtain  the  grace  of  faith 
for  this  b^ughted  people,  and  may  this  ancient  mission  of 
Chidiock,  adorned  with  so  many  luminaries,  watered  with  so 
many  tears,  and  sanctified  by  so  much  suffering,  become  an 
example  to  eveiy  other,  ''letting  their  conversation  be  as 
becometh  the  gospel  of  Christ.''   (Philip,  i.  27.) 

I  cannot  close  this  fourth  chapter  without  recording 
Mr.  Humphrey  Coffin,  of  Wambrook.  This  Recusant  had 
bis  lands  and  rents  sequestered  in  1645. 


40  STATE  OF  BELIGION  IN  DOB8ETSHIKK. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE   ACTUAL   8TATB   OV   RBLIOION   IN   DORSBTSHIRB. 

From  the  harrowing  retrospect  of  persecution^  it  is  refireshing 
to  look  around  and  witness  the  increase  in  number  and 
respectability  of  the  churches  and  chapels  in  Dorset.  Can- 
ford,  indeed,  its  oldest  mission,  is  lost  to  us;  but  its  place  is 
well  supplied  by  Poole  and  by  Spetisbury :  "  Non  minuitur 
persecutionibus  Ecclesia,  sed  augetur/' 

And  to  begin  with  LtUlworth,  Certainly,  from  the  time 
of  purchasing  this  estate  of  the  Howards  of  Bindon,  by 
Humphrey  Weld,  Esq.,  a  chaplain  has  been  attached  to  the 
family  (A.D.  1641).  This  gentleman  had  married  Clara, 
daughter  of  Thomas,  the  first  Lord  Arundell,  of  whom  more 
hereafter.  But  the  oratory  was  confined  to  the  house,  until 
the  late  Thomas  Weld,  Esq.,  determined  to  erect  witlun  the 
grounds  the  present  convenient  church  of  St.  Mary.  The 
first  stone  was  laid  by  that  great  patron  of  religion  on 
2nd  February,  1786;  under  it  were  placed  coins  of  King 
George  III.,  with  a  brass  plate,  bearing  an  inscription,  sup- 
plied almost  verbatim  by  F.  Oiovenazzi,  S.J.,  librarian  in 
Palazza  Altieri>  as  I  learn  from  F.  John  Thorpe's  letter^ 
dated  16th  September,  1785,  via.  :— 

^  Lapis  sacer  auspicalis  in  fundametita  futuri  Templi 
Jactas  anno  mdcclxxxvi  iy^  Nonas  Februarii. 
Quod  templum  Thomas  Weld  public^  meo  in  solo 
Primus  omnium,  mitescente  per  Georgium  Tertium 
Legum  penalium  acerbitate,  m  honorem  Virginis 
BeatissimsB  Dei  Grenetricis  adgredior  extruendum.    Tu 
Vero  Dens,  Optime,  Maxima,  opus  tantis  auspiciis 
Inchoatum  custodi,  protege,  fove  ac  confirma, 
Ut  quaque  Britannise  patent.  Religion!  Sanctc 
Templa  adcrescant^  Templis  Cultores.** 

This  sacred  edifice  is  76  feet  long  by  61  broad.  Within 
its  sacred  walls  Dr.  John  Carroll,  the  founder  of  Episcopacy 
in  North  America,  was  consecrated  bishop  of  Baltimore,  on 
15th  August,  1790,  by  Dr.  Charles  Widmesley,  bishop  of 
Rama,  and  V.A.  of  the  western  district.  Here  also  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Gibson  was  consecrated  bishop  of  Acanthus,  and  V.A. 
of  the  Northern  District,  on  5th  December  the  same  year,  by 
the  said  Bishop  Walmesley ;  and  the  new  bishop  of  Acanthus 


STATE  OP  RELIGION  IN  DORSETSHIRE.         41 

performed  the  same  solemn  rite  a  fortnight  later  in  the  same 
place  on  Dr.  John  Douglas^  bishop  of  Centurise,  and  V.A.  of 
the  Eastern  District.  In  the  vault  under  St.  Mary's  lies 
that  patron  of  orthodoxy  and  piety,  Thomas  Weld,  Esq., 
who  died  at  Stonyhurst  College,  oA  Ist  August,  1810,  set. 
sixty. 

2.  Chidiock  Chapel,  after  the  dismantling  of  the  castle, 
was  in  the  upper  room  of  a  cottage  in  North  Chidiock,  and 
was  demolished  to  make  way  for  the  present  mansion. 
Though  this  chapel  is  in  size,  and  height,  and  convenience 
far  superior  to  its  predecessor,  I  fully  expect  that  it  will, 
after  a  time,  be  replaced  by  something  better.  It  was 
opened  on  Easter-Sunday,  1811. 

3.  The  Hussey  family  purchased  MarrihuU  about  the  year 
1651,  and  either  there,  or  in  Stour  Provost  village,  a  priest 
was  accessible  £rom  nearly  that  period.  But  the  present 
incumbent  has  been  enabled  to  erect  an  elegant  place  of 
worship,  which  he  opened  on  8rd  July,  1832.  This  zealous 
gentleman  (Rev.  William  Casey)  was  much  assisted  by  his 
friend  the  late  Richard  Rawe,  Esq.,  who  was  bom  in  Ibberton 
parish,  Dorset,  21st  December,  1742,  and  died  at  Wincanton 
on  7th  August,  1833,  set.  ninety-one.  In  a  letter  to  me, 
dated  from  his  seat.  Purse-candle,  near  Sherbom,  Sth 
November,  1820,  he  informed  me  that,  ''  about  a  year  and  a 
half  since,  I  settled  on  the  mission  at  MarnhuH  an  annuity 
of  twenty  pounds  for  ever,  by  the  purchase  of  so  much  stock 
in  the  Three  per  Cent.  Consols  as  would  produce  that  sum ; 
the  cost  of  the  whole  was  about  iE530.'' 

4.  Stapehill  has  long  been  a  missionary  station,  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Arundell  family.  Here  the  Jesuits  had  a 
school,  which  bigotry  magnified  enormously.  The  following 
narrative,  which  I  copied  from  Brice's  Exeter  paper,  called 
the  "Post  Master,  or  Loyal  Mercury/'  published  2nd 
October,  1724,  must  delight  the  lovers  of  Munchausen 
adventures : — 

*'  From  Wimbome,  in  Dorsetshire^  the^  write,  that  a  Catholic  semi- 
taary,  which  had  long  subsisted  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that  town,  was 
by  aceidmt  discorered  some  time  ago,  which  has  obliged  the  person  con- 
cerned in  it  to  break  up  housekeeping  and  remove.  The  place  was 
exactly  suited  to  the  design,  it  being  out  of  the  way  of  any  great  road, 
and  altogether  incog,  'Twas  found  out  by  some  genUemen  that  were 
hunting,  who  came  upon  them  before  they  were  aware,  and  suiprised 
some  of  the  youths  tnat  were  walking  at  a  distance  from  the  house. 
There  were  about  shtty  roams  in  ity  handsomefy  fitted  up,  which  are  aU 
under  around;  so  that  nothing  but  a  bit  of  a  farm-house  appears,  which 
has  till  now  been  a  cover  to  all  the  rest.  The  masters,  students,  and 
others  employed,  made  the  family  about  three  hundred  in  number  :  but 
they  are  all  now  gone  to  their  respective  friends ;  and  'tis  thought  'twill 


42  8TAT£   OF   RELIGION    IN    DORBETSHIRB. 

be  very  difficult  for  them  to  fix  so  much  to  their  satisfaetioa  agun  in 
this  county." 

Splendid^  mendax. — The  late  venerable  Thomas  Taunton^ 
Esq.^  informed  me,  that  in  his  boyhood,  before  he  went  in 
September,  1758,  to  St.  Omer's  College,  he  had  been  to  a  little 
school  here  kept  by  a  Catholic,  Mr.  Stafford. 

In  1802,  Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Anmdell,  afforded  a 
refuge  here  to  Madame  Bc^alie  Augustin  de  Chabannes,  a 
lady  of  the  highest  merit,  and  her  religious  community  de 
la  Sainte  Croix  de  Notre  Dame  de  la  Trappe.  The  want  of 
a  suitable  church  had  long  been  felt  by  the  nuns  and  by  the 
congregation.  At  length,  the  first  foundation  of  the  new 
edifice,  as  designed  by  Mr.  Charles  Hansom,  the  architect  of 
very  many  churches,  was  laid  by  Bishop  Ullathome,  on 
Tuesday,  25  th  May,  1847,  and  was  opened  with  becoming 
solemnity  on  16th  July,  1851.  On  this  occasion  £75  were 
collected.  The  congregation  at  Canford  is  merged  in  Stape- 
hiU,  and  altogether  consists  of  180  souls. 

5.  Since  Christmas,  1799,  the  English  Augustine  nuns, 
originally  of  Louvain,  have,  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  been 
established  at  Spetisbury,  where,  praised  be  God,  they  are 
in  a  flourishing  state,  and  maintain  two  priests.  Their 
convenient  and  respectable  church,  designed  by  the  late 
Mr.  Peniston,  was  opened  on  8th  September,  1830.  It  may 
be  mentioned  here  that  a  small  chapel,  now  disused,  was 
fitted  up  in  the  neighbouring  town  of  Blandford  by 
Mr.  Towsey  (see  Directory  of  1813),  and  served  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Pierre  Moulins  for  nine  years;  and  on  his  retirement  in 
1814,  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lee ;  but  for  a  considerable  time 
the  few  Catholics  in  Blandford  attended  Spetisbury. 

6.  Poole. — At  the  commencement  of  this  century,  I'Abbe 
Pierre  Lanquetuit,  encouraged  by  the  late  Thomas  Weld, 
Esq.,  and  Lady  Anastasia  Mannock,  relict  of  Sir  Thomas 
Mannock,  and  daughter  of  Lord  Montague  (a  benefactress  to 
the  amount  of  £800),  began  this  mission,  and  served  it  till 
1820,  when  he  returned  to  Prance.  It  was  a  poor  residence, 
and  the  chapel  very  insignificant ;  but  since  the  opening  of 
St.  Mary's  church,  on  July  16th,  1839,  religion  has  indeed 
lifted  up  her  head  in  the  place,  and  I  anticipate  the  rapid 
progress  of  truth. — N.B.  The  late  Sir  Edward  Tichboume 
Doughty,  Baronet  (who  died  on  Saturday,  5th  March,  1853, 
set.  seventy-one),  had  purchased  the  Upton  estate,  near  Poole 
(1829),  and  there  kept  a  domestic  chaplain.  He  never 
recovered  the  loss  of  his  only  son  Henry,  who  died  on  31  st 
May,  1835,  aged  five  years  and  nine  months. 

7.  Weymouth. — L'Abbe  Dubuisson,  an  emigrant  French 


STATE  OF  RSLI6ION  IN  DORSETSHIRE.         43 

priest,  had  established  himself  here  as  a  professor  of  the 
French  language,  and  officiated  in  a  temporary  room,  which 
he  hired  for  the  benefit  of  Catholic  invalids  who  visited  that 
fashionable  watering-place.  The  old  gentleman,  in  July, 
1822,  retired  from  missionary  duty,  and  died  a  few  months 
later,  aged  seventy-six.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Bev. 
James  Macdonnell,  who,  not  having  the  same  resources  to 
fall  back  upon,  accepted  the  chaplaincy  of  Rotherwaas,  and 
subsequently  the  mission  of  Leamington,  where  he  died,  after 
much  valuable  service,  on  26th  June,  18S8,  set.  forty-two, 
and  was  buried  on  1st  July  at  the  foot  of  his  own  altar. 

Bishop  Collingridge,  who  had  taken  a  lively  interest  in  this 
rising  mission,  and  felt  much  for  the  poor  prisoners  and  sol- 
diers at  Portland,  transferred  hither  the  fund  assigned  by  Mr. 
Conyers  to  Dartmouth ;  and  his  coadjutor,  Dr.  Baines,  conse- 
crated bishop  of  Siga  1st  May,  1823,  shortly  after  took  up 
his  residence  No.  4,  Belvidere,  Weymouth,  and  did  the  duty 
of  the  place. .  I  find  him  baptizing  there  on  22nd  August 
and  9th  October,  1823.  The  Bev.  Francis  Edgeworth  suc- 
ceeded his  lordship  in  the  following  year,  but  in  the  spring 
of  1825  was  ordered  to  replace  the  unfortunate  Bev.  John 
Burke  at  St.  Joseph's  chapel,  Bristol.  Weymouth  was  then 
left  without  a  pastor  until  the  appointment  of  the  Bev.  Peter 
Hartley,  on  20th  November,  1829.  To  him  the  praise  is 
due  of  purchasing  the  site  of  the  present  missionary  premises, 
of  erecting  the  priest's  house,  and  the  chapel  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, 56  feet  long  by  27  feet  broad,  which  was  solemnly 
opened  on  22nd  October,  1835.  More  of  him  in  the  bio- 
graphical or  second  part.  In  November,  1835,  the  Bev.  Joseph 
Dwyer  became  its  pastor  for  eighteen  months.  But  in  an 
evil  day,  viz.,  14th  June,  1837,*  was  the  Bev.  Thomas 
Butler,  D.D.,  appointed  to  this  mission.  This  notorious 
ex-Dominican  was  bom  at  Limerick  in  1800 :  he  had  lately 
arrived  from  Malta,  and  Bishop  Baines  was  led  to  hope  and 
believe  that,  by  stability,  he  might  do  credit  to  the  cause  of 
religion.  In  1837,  he  delivered  twenty-one  lectures  in 
Weymouth  chapel  to  prove  that  the  Boman  Catholic  Church 
was  a  Scriptural  Church.  His  work,  intitled,  "  The  Truths 
of  the  Catholic  Beligion  proved  by  Scripture  alone,'*  and 
dedicated  by  him  to  Bishop  Baines,  was  published  in  two 
small  volumes  by  Booker  and  Dolman  in  1838.  Unques- 
tionably the  author  was  a  man  of  reading,  but  conceited, 

•  In  the  chapel  register  I  find  :  "  14  Junii,  1837,  Ablllrao  ac  Rmo 
Petro  Augustino  Baines,  Episcopo  Sig»,  et  in  Districtu  Occidentali 
Angiiitt  yV"  Aplico,  Weymouth  Missionarias  Apiicus  renuntiatus  fui. 
—Sac-  Tho-  Butleb,  D.D:' 


44         STATE  OP  RELIGION  IN  DOBSEtSHIRE. 

)re8tle88^  showy,  and  rery  extravagant.  Quitting  Weymouth 
abruptly,  he  started  for  Liverpool,  where  he  got  himself 
attached  to  St.  Anthony's  chapel,  Sootland-road ;  then  throw- 
ing up  that  situation,  he  left  for  Newry,  in  his  native  country, 
where  he  disgraced  himself,  and  then  hastily  decamped,  over- 
whelmed with  debts.  Soon  after  it  was  known  that  he  had 
passed  over  to  the  Church  of  England,  under  the  teaching  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Baylee,  of  Birkenhead ;  next  that  he  was 
appointed  to  one  of  the  new  Protestant  churches  in  Jersey, 
with  a  salary  of  £100  per  annum.  Then,  after  being  reported 
as  dead  in  a  lunatic  asylum  there,  he  has  re-appeared,  in  the 
good  pay  of  the  Protestant  Association,  as  a  "  No  Popery  " 
lecturer,  through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  country, 
slandering  and  decrying  that  Scriptural  Church  which  he 
had  so  recently  defended  I  Unhappy  man  !  May  remorse 
be  followed  by  true  repentance ! 

A  reverend  gentleman  ^amed  Murphy  now  supplied  during 
three  months,  when,  for  the  comfort  of  the  faithful,  and  of 
all  that  is  respectable  in  society,  my  dear  friend  Canon 
Tilbury  was  substituted,  on  20th  November,  1840.  His 
experience  and  venerable  age, — ^his  character  of  quiet  and 
solid  virtue  and  spotless  integrity,  were  rapidly  restoring  the 
credit  of  the  religion  which  the  conduct  of  lus  penultimate 
predecessor  had  served  to  obscure  and  injure.  But,  alas !  he 
expired  on  9th  June  last. 

8.  Lyme. — ^The  few  Catholics  here  were  in  the  habit  of 
attending  Axminster  for  prayers,  and  they  had  liberally  con- 
tributed to  the  erection  of  the  new  church  of  St.  Mary, 
which  was  opened  15th  August,  1831.  The  Rev.  Charles 
Fisher,  a  newly-ordained  priest  (of  whom  more  hereafter), 
appointed  to  Axminster  17th  July,  1884,  had  scarcely  arrived 
there,  when  he  vehemently  urged  the  erection  of  a  church  at 
Lyme;  and  without  sufficiently  calculating  the  necessary 
outlay,  the  ground  was  purchased,  and  the  foundation-stone 
of  the  church  of  St.  Gheoige  and  St.  Michael  was  laid  on 
23rd  April,  1835.  The  handsome  design  of  this  church  was 
ftimished  by  E.  Goodridge,  of  Bath,  Esq.  Shortly  after 
some  progjress  was  made  in  the  building,  Mr.  Fisher,  with 
characteristic  restlessness,  quitted  the  place.  Though  the 
work  was  suspended,  it  was  managed  at  length  to  proceed,  so 
as  to  have  Mass  said  in  the  very  unfinished  edifice,  on  27th 
August,  1837. 

But  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  William  Joseph  Yaughan, 
after  the  brief  visits  of  Messrs.  Swarbrick  and  James  McDon- 
nell, was  the  harbinger  of  brighter  prospects  to  this  new 
mission.    On  Wednesday  of  Easter  week,  18th  April,  1838, 


STATE  or  RBLIOION  IN  DORSETSHIRE.         4d 

he  reached  Lyme.  Out  of  his  own  means  he  built  the  house ; 
an  excellent  school  followed^  with  the  pecuniary  aid  of 
Miss  Ellen  Shuttleworth.  He  bought  a  garden  contiguous, 
which  he  has  conveyed  to  the  mission,  and  he  improved  the 
church.  Bishop  Baggs,  requiring  a  gentleman  of  his  influ- 
ence and  energy,  called  him  away  at  Midsummer,  1B45,  to 
be  president  of  St.  Paul's,  Prior  Park,  to  the  deep  regret  of 
his  attached  flock;  but  he  had  a  worthy  successor  in  the 
Rev.  William  Seth  Agar,  who  added  much  to  the  beauty  of 
his  church,  which  is  a  bijou  of  its  kind.  The  beautiful  Lady 
Chapel  was  finished  in  1851. 

On  22nd  May,  1836,  ten  persons  were  confirmed  here. 

On  15th  July,  1849,  twenty-three  were  confirmed. 

9.  Bridport.-^The  blameless  conduct  of  the  Catholics  resi- 
dent in  this  town,  \Fho  were  exemplary  in  attending  the  chapel 
at  Chidiock,  had  won  the  good  opinion  of  their  neighbours ; 
but  the  public  discussion  of  Catholic  principles  in  the  Town- 
hall  on  15th  June,  1841,  before  an  audience  of  more  than 
600  influential  persons,  G.  T.  GoUop,  Esq.,  a  liberal  Pro- 
testant, in  the  chair,  could  not  fail  to  produce  a  powerful 
impression  in  our  favour,  and  to  explode  the  calumnies 
charged  upon  us.  The  Bev.  William  Peter  Bond,  then  pastor 
of  Chidiock,  the  Bev,  William  J.  Vaughan,  of  Lyme,  and 
F.  McDonnell,  of  Birmingham,  did  themselves  infinite  honour 
on  that  occasion.  The  Rev.  John  Byan,  a  successor  of  Mr. 
Bond,  availing  himself  of  this  friendly  disposition  of  the 
townspeople,  decided  on  commencing  a  new  chapel  in  Brid- 
port.  The  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  8th  September, 
1845,  in  honour  of  our  Lady.  He  said  the  first  Mass  in  the 
new  edifice  on  1st  July,  1846;  and  on  the  2nd  Julv  Bishop 
Ullathome  opened  it  with  great  solemnity,  assisted  by  ten 
priests.  For  a  considerable  time  this  zealous  pastor  did  the 
duty  of  both  places ;  but,  happily,  fww  Bridport  enjoys  its 
own  Catholic  incumbent. 


46  ACCOUNT   OF  THE    PRINCIPAL 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SOME   ACCOUNT  OP    THE   PRINCIPAL   CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN 
DORSETSHIRE. 

1.  The  Welds. — ^The  first  time  that  I  have  met  with  the 
family  is  in  the  '' Abbreviatio  Placitorum/'  fol.  283,  A.D. 
1290,  where  John  de  Welda  and  Matilda  his  wife,  in  Essex, 
recovered  damages  in  a  suit  (Hot.  88)  .*  Humphry  Weld,  of 
East  Barnet,  Herts,  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1610 : 
his  relict  Frances  parted  with  that  manor  of  East  Barnet  in 
1645.  Several  members  of  the  family  raised  themselves  by 
success  in  the  legal  profession;  amongst  whom  we  may 
mention  Sir  John  Weld,  knight,  of  Arnolds,  in  the  parish 
of  Edmonton,  brother  of  the  said  Lord  Mayor.  He  built 
and  endowed  Southgate  Chapel  in  that  parish,  which  was  con- 
secrated by  Dr.  King,  bishop  of  London,  in  1615.  Accord- 
ing to  Lysons,  the  learned  knight  died  in  1622.  In  Smyth's 
Obituary  I  read,  25th  March,  1650,  "Died  Mr.  William 
Weld,  of  Bread-street,  London,  father  of  Sir  William  Weld, 
now  recorder."  This  recorder  died  in  1661 ;  his  lady  was 
buried  5th  September,  in  the  same  year.  A  George  Weld,  or 
Wilde,  son  of  Henry  Weld,  a  citizen  of  London,  a  stanch 
loyalist,  was  made  bishop  of  Derry  by  King  Charles  II.,  and 
dying  in  Dublin  29th  December,  1665,  set.  sixty-four,  was 
buried  in  Christ  Church  there.  A  branch  of  the  Weld  family 
still  exists  in  Ireland. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  I  have  stated  that  Humphry 
Weld,  Esq.,  in  1641,  became  the  fortunate  purchaser  of  Lull- 
worth.  That  he  was  a  monied  man  is  evidenced  by  the  large 
sums  he  advanced  to  save  the  sequestered  estates  of  Henry, 
the  third  Lord  Arundell,  when  sold  at  Drury  House,  London, 
in  1658.  In  my  humble  opinion,  he  was  the  first  Catholic  in 
his  family.  He  had  married  Clara,  daughter  of  Thomas,  the 
first  Loid  Arundell;  and  Dodd  informs  us  (Church  Hist, 
vol.  iii.  p.  800)  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Hyde,  afterwards 
president  of  Douay  College,  "remained  awhile  with  Mr. 
Humphry  Weld."  This  possessor  of  Lullworth  had  two 
brothers.     1st,  John,  a  barrister,  who  was  knighted,  and  is 

*  Peter  Weld.  D.D.,  a  Franciscan,  of  Worcester,  preached  at  the 
funeral  of  Isabella,  ducmess  of  Clarence,  1476.— Mon.  Angl.  vol.  ii.  G4. 


CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN    DORSETSHIRE.  47 

described  of  Pinchbeck^  county  Lincoln^  and  of  Combe  or 
Compton  Bassett,  in  Wilts. 

2nd,  George,  married  to  Catherine  Moore ;  he  is  described 
as  of  St:  Martin's  parish,  London.  Their  daughter  Cecily 
married  Daniel  Mahony,  son  of  John  Mahony,  of  Castle 
Mahony,  county  Cork,  Esq. 

Bichard  Blore,  in  his  '^  Britannia,^'  published  in  1673,  dedi- 
cated the  map  of  Dorsetshire  to  this  Humphry  Weld,  of  Lull- 
worth  Castle,  Esq.,  governor  of  Portland  and  Sandesfoot 
Castles.  In  plate  25  are  the  arms  of  the  said  gentleman,  and 
he  is  further  represented  as  the  owner  of  Dry  Dratton,  in 
Cambridgeshire,  and  of  Weld  House,  in  St.  Giles-in-the- 
Fields,  London.  From  the  journals  of  the  Lords  we  learn, 
that  at  the  time  of  Oates's  Plot,  1678,  Humphry  Weld,  Esq., 
was  in  the  commission  of  the  peace,  and  stiU  governor  of 
Portland  Castle.  On  the  petition  of  the  Lords  to  the  Crown, 
27th  March,  1679,  he  was  deprived  of  these  offices.  More- 
over, the  Privy  Council  directed  that  his  house  within  Port- 
land Castle,  his  castle  of  Lullworth,  and  Weld  House,  in 
London,  should  be  searched  for  arms.  In  a  grotto  of  the 
garden  attached  to  Weld  House  were  found  several  chests 
and  trunks,  which  the  said  Humphry  Weld  affirmed  were 
goods  left  in  his  hands  by  Don  Pedro  de  RonquiUio,  late 
Spanish  ambassador  here,  for  a  security  of  a  sum  of  money 
paid  by  him  for  the  said  ambassador.  On  Slst  of  the  same 
month  and  year,  the  trunks  were  ordered  to  be  carefully 
examined  and  a  report  to  be  made  to  the  House  of  their 
contents.  On  7th  April  the  said  trunks  were  ordered  to  be 
restored,  "  as  there  was  nothing  among  the  papers  relating 
to  the  said  conspiracy"  This  persecuted  gentleman  died 
about  1685,  in  a  good  old  age.  Sir  Roger  le  Strange,  in  his 
folio  edition  of  "  ^sop's  Fables,*'  p.  132,  mentions  the  pillage 
of  Weld  House  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution.  This 
took  place  on  12th  December,  1688. 

By  failure  of  issue  male,  the  estate  descended  to  his 
nephew  William,  son  of  Sir  John  Weld,*  of  Compton  Bassett, 
and  Mary  (Stourton)  his  wife.  He  had  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Richard  Shirebum,  of  Stonyhm^,  Esq.;  she 
died  24th  January,  1688, 0.S.  He  survived  until  12th  April, 
1698,  being  then  forty-eight  years  old,  leaving  a  son  and 
heir,  Humphry  Weld. 

*  The  worthy  knight,  I  trust,  had  not  dictated  the  wild  inscrii>tion 
to  his  memory  in  the  church  of  Lullworth,  copied  into  Hutchins's 
*' History  of  Dorset."  Though  he  had  marriea  Mary,  daughter  of 
William,  the  tenth  Lord  Stourton,  he  was  not  reputed  a  Catholic.  Her 
ladyship  died  15th  May,  1660  :  he  survived  till  11th  July,  1674. 


43  ACCOUNT  OF   THE   PRINCIPAt 

This  gentleman  contracted  marriage  with  Margaret,  only 
daughter  of  Sir  James  Simeon,  of  Britwell,  in  Oxfordshire, 
and  Aston,  in  Staffordshire,  Bart.  (His  creation  bears  date 
18th  October,  1677.)  This  union,  like  that  of  his  father, 
eventually  brought  large  possessions  to  the  Weld  family. 
Mr.  Weld  died  23rd  June,  1722,  set.  forty-five,  leaving  a  son, 
Edward  Weld,  to  be  the  fourth  to  inherit  the  property.  He 
married  first,  about  the  year  1728,  the  Hon.  Catherine  Aston, 
eldest  surviving  daughter  of  Walter,  fourth  Lord  Aston,  by 
his  wife  Mary,  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Lord  Howard.  This 
Hon.  Mrs.  Weld  very  indelicately,  but  ineffectually,  sued  for 
a  divorce,  and  died  without  issue  25th  October,  1739,  aged 
thirty-four.  In  the  British  Museum  may  be  seen  an  octavo 
volume  of  her  proceedings  against  Edward  Weld,  her  husband, 
in  the  Arches  Court,  Canterbury,  and  the  sentence  pro** 
nounced  by  Dr.  Bettisworth,  15th  February,  1782-3,  which 
was  affirmed  by  the  Court  of  Delegates  in  Trinity  Term  foU 
lowing."^  Her  death  enabled  him  to  contract  marriage  with 
Mary  Theresa,  daughter  of  John  Yaughan,  of  Courtfield, 
Esq.,t  by  whom  he  had  several  children.  She  died  21st  July, 
1754,  aged  forty:  he  survived  until  8th  December,  1761, 
aged  fifty-seven.  Mr.  Hutchins,  in  hia  elaborate  History  of 
Dorset,  does  honour  to  himself,  by  the  following  tribute  to 
the  character  of  his  friend  :->- 

'^  The  late  Edward  Weld,  Esq.,  was  of  an  agreeable  person, 
sweet,  modest,  and  humane  temper ;  easy,  affable,  and  obliging 
behaviour.  He  lived  in  great  credit  and  hospitality,  and 
maintained  a  good  correspondence  and  harmony  with  the 
neighbouring  gentry;  nor  did  difference  in  opinion  create 
any  reserve  or  distance.  His  charity  and  generosity  were 
not  confined  to  those  of  his  own  persuasion,  but  universal; 
and  his  character,  in  every  social  relation  of  life,  truly 
amiable.  Though  he  ever  behaved  as  a  peaceable  subject,  he 
was  ordered  into  custody  in  1745,  on  account  of  his  name 
being  mentioned  in  a  treasonable  anonymous  letter,  dropped 
near  Poole — a  malicious  piece  of  villany,  which  none  but  a 
bigot  and  sealot  would  practise ;  and  which  will  endanger 
the  life,  fortune,  and  reputation  of  the  most  blameless  and 

*  Lee's  Ecclesiastical  Cases,  vol.  ii,  p.  580. 

t  Of  her  brother,  John  Vaughan,  Esq.,  who  died,  «.;>.,  in  1780, 
F.  John  Thorpe,  writing  from  Rome  on  18th  March,  of  that  year,  to 
Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundel],  thus  expresses  himself :  "  What  an 
amiable  and  venerable  character  is  civen  of  the  deceased  Mr.  Vaughan 
both  in  letters  and  newspapers !  It  would  be  a  comfort  to  religion  if 
his  example  was  followed  oy  every  Catholic  gentleman  in  the  kingdom. 
Too  many  of  them  forget  themselves  to  l^  only  tenants  at  will  to 

Imighty  God,  and  to  be  accountable  to  Him  for  the  use  of  their  estates." 


CATHOLIC    FAMILIES    IN    DORSETSHIRE.  49 

inoiFensive.  An  immediate  and  honourable  discharge  was  a 
most  convincing  proof  of  his  innocence.  His  worth,  and 
the  favours  I  received  from  him,  demand  this  testimony  of 
my  respect  and  gratitude  to  the  memory  of  a  friend.'^  So 
far  this  honest  and  reverend  Protestant  historian.  Had  he 
turned  to  the  '^  Gentleman's  Magazine '^  of  1745,  p.  554,  he 
would  have  found  the  anonjrmous  letter  referred  to,  viz. : — 

**  Monday ,  Oct.  7th,  Wareham,  in  Dorsetshire, 

**  On  Monday  last  was  found  dropt  near  Pool  the  following  letter, 
with  a  piece  of  paper  and  a  handkerchief,  in  a  wheel-rutt  full  of 
water : — 

«* « Sir,  *  September  27, 1746. 

** '  Having  this  opportunity,  by  a  friend  who  is  going  to  Plymouth,  to 
advise  our  Catholic  friends  how  to  act  with  relation  to  the  prisoners, 
the  which  is  also  to  stop  near  Weymouth,  I  thought  proper  to  wish  you 
joy  of  the  success  of  our  friends  in  the  north.  When  our  friends  arrive 
m  tlie  west,  I  hope  you  will  be  ready  to  assist  them,  as  promised  in 
your  last;  but  I  fear  the  winds  have  prevented  them  as  yet.  My 
humble  respects  to  S.  J.  W.  (Sir  John  Webb)  and  all  friends  at  Can- 
ford,  LuUworth,  Weymouth,  Exeter,  and  Plymouth.* 

**  On  this,  Mr.  Weld  was  taken  into  custody^  but  after  several  ex- 
aminations discharged." 

5th,  Edward,  eldest  son  of  the  above-mentioned  wor*> 
thy,  succeeded  to  the  property.  To  obtain  a  smuggled 
education  abroad  (which  was  denied  him  at  home),  I 
find  in  the  procurator's  book  of  St.  Omer's  College,  that  he 
arrived  there,  with  his  brother  John,  under  the  name  of 
Shireburn,  on  1st  August,  1754,  and  certainly  both  conti* 
nned  there  until  22nd  February,  1759.  (John  died,  26th 
September,  1759,  and  was  buried  at  St.  James's,  Brussels.) 
Their  younger  brother,  Thomas,  followed,  on  26th  Septem* 
ber,  1762,  under  the  name  of  Shireburn  also,  and  remained 
at  Watten  and  at  Bruges  until  2nd  May,  1765. 

This  Edward  married  twice:  1st,  Julia,  daughter  of 
Edward,  the  eighth  Lord  Petre.  She  died  16th  July,  1772, 
Bet.  thirty^two.  2ndly,  Mary,  daughter  of  Walter  Smythe> 
of  Brambridge,  Hants,  Esq.,  16th  July,  1775.  He  was  in  a 
precarious  state  of  health  at  the  time,  and  barely  survived 
the  ceremony  three  months,  dying  on  23rd  October  follow^ 
ing.  This  far-famed  lady  was  bom  26th  July,  1756.  She 
soon  found  a  second  husband  in  Thomas  Fitzherbert,  of 
Swynnerton,  Esq.  He  died  at  Nice,  in  1781*  She  subse- 
quently, on  21st  December,  1786,  married  George,  Prince 
of  Wales,  and  survived  until  27th  March,  1837.  She  was 
buried  in  St.  John  tlie  Baptist^s  chapel,  Brighton,  to  which 
she  proved  a  generous  benefactress.     Her  beautiful  monu« 


60  ACCOUNT  OF  THB   PRINCIPAL 

mmt  there,  by  Carew,  records  her  merits,  and  the  grateful 
affection  of  her  friend  and  companion  Miss  Seymour.  Her 
memoirs  have  been  recently  published  by  that  noble  Chris- 
tian gentleman  the  Honourable  Charles  Langdale  (London, 
1856,  8vo.). 

I  now  come  to  Thomas,  the  sixth  possessor,  only  surviy- 
ing  brother  of  Edward.  From  infancy  he  was  the  favourite 
of  Heaven,  and  as  he  advanced  through  Ufe,  he  was  justly 
regarded  as  the  pattern  of  every  virtue  that  can  adorn  the 
Christian  gentleman.  In  his  own  conduct  and  intercourse, 
this  dignified  head  of  a  large  establishment  exemplified  how 
perfecdy  a  regular  system  of  piety  is  compatible  with  atten- 
tion to  the  social  duties  and  the  successful  management  of 
extensive  property. 

On  27th  February,  1772,  he  was  united  in  holy  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Massey  Stanley ;  and  each  of  their  nume- 
rous family  might  say,  ''A  parentibus  nobilitatem  pietatis 
accepi/'  Six  years  after  his  union  occurred  the  first  relax- 
ation of  the  penal  laws.  In  the  Sherborne  paper  of  that 
period  I  read,  ''On  the  24th  December,  1778,  six  great  guns 
(six-pounders),  with  their  carriages,  ammunition,  and  neces- 
sary implements  belonging  to  them,  said  to  be  brought  from 
Bristol,  were  carried  in  two  waggons  to  Lullworth  Castle, 
on  the  sea-coast  of  Dorsetshire,  the  seat  of  Thomas  Weld, 
Esq.,  a  Soman  Catholic  gentleman,  where  $ume  are  remem- 
bezed  to  ever  have  been  before.  They  are  supposed  to  be 
the  private  property  of  that  gentleman,  and  a  flag-staff  is 
erected  on  the  top  of  the  castle ''  1 

Little  did  that  editor  foresee  that  his  gracious  Majesty 
Qeoftge  III.  would,  with  his  royal  family,  a  few  years 
later,  frequently  honour  Lullworth  and  its  loyal  owner 
with  his  presence,  partake  of  his  splendid  hospitality,  even 
inspect  his  new  (diapel  of  St.  Mary,  and  converse  familiarly 
with  the  Rev.  Charles  Plowden,  the  well-known  Jesuit. 

Mr.  Weld  was  justly  regarded  as  the  friend  and  protector 
of  religion.  It  would  require  a  volume  to  enumerate  his 
good  deeds  to  the  communities  of  Stonyhurst,  La  Trappe, 
Taunton  Lodge,  Clare  House,^  Plymouth,  &;c.  &c.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  ''Eleemosynas  illius  enarrabit  omnis  ecclesia  sanc- 
torum.''— Ecdi.  xxxi.  On  Ist  August,  1810,  he  was  called 
by  God  to  receive  the  recompense  of  his  good  deeds,  et. 
sixty;  his  honoured  relict  finished  her  course  at  Filewell 

*  His  sister,  Mary  Euphrasia  Weld,  a  rdigious,  formerly  of  Aire,  in 
Artois,  died  at  Clare  House,  Plymouth,  on  12th  March,  1823^  et.  sixty- 
nine,  and  was  interred  in  the  little  cemetery,  with  ten  other  members  of 
the  commanity. 


CATHOLIC    FAMILIES    IN   D0R8ET8HIRB.  61 

House,  near  Lymington,  on  1st  of  August  also,  just  twenty 
years  later  (1880). 

To  this  patron  of  orthodoxy  and  piety,  succeeded  his 
eldest  son,  Thomas,  bom  in  London,  on  22nd  January, 
1778.  For  the  most  part  he  received  his  education  under 
the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Plowden,  S.J.,  whom  Cardinal 
Wiseman  describes  as  ^'a  man  Eeaious  and  fearless  in  the 
defence  of  religion,  and  well  known  for  his  many  learned 
works/'  On  14th  June,  1796,  he  married,  at  Ugbrooke, 
Lacy  Bridget  Cli£Ford,  second  daughter  of  the  Honourable 
Thomas  Clifford  (fourth  son  of  Hugh,  the  third  Lord  Clif- 
ford).  Their  only  issue  was  Mary  Lucy,  bom  at  Upway, 
near  Wejrmouth,  on  81st  January^  1799.  The  loss  of  his 
amiable  consort  at  Clifton,  on  1st  June,  1815,  and  the 
subsequent  marriage  of  his  only  child  to  the  Honourable 
Mr.  Clifford,  at  Paris,  on  1st  September,  1818,  left  this  lord  of 
Lullworth  at  full  liberty  to  embrace  the  ecclesiastical  estate, 
and  to  renounce  the  &mily  property  to  his  next  brother, 
Joseph  Weld,  Esq.  Placing  himself  under  the  direction  of  his 
old  friend  and  experienced  guide,  the  celebrated  Abbe  Carron, 
a  long  preparation  was  not  required*  Monseigneur  Quelen, 
archbishop  of  Paris,  thought  proper  to  ordain  him  sub- 
deacon,  on  28rd  September,  1820 ;  deacon  on  the  ensuing 
2drd  Becember ;  and  priest  on  7th  April,  1821.  Six  days 
later  he  celebrated  his  first  Mass.  On  20th  June,  1822,  he 
b^an  to  assist  the  pastor  of  the  Chelsea  mission,  and  conti- 
nued to  raider  useful  service  in  the  laborious  duties  of  his 
office  in  the  company  and  under  the  direction  of  that 
apostolic  man  L'Abbe  Voyaux.  After  some  time,  he  was 
removed  to  Hammersmith.  But  he  was  not  suffered  to 
remain  quiet,  for  the  Bight  Bev.  Alexander  Macdonnell,D.D., 
bishop  of  Sangston,  Upp^  Canada,  solicited  of  the  Holy 
See,  and  prociued  his  nomination  to  be  his  coadjutor.  The 
ceremony  of  Dr.  Weld^s  consecration,  as  bishop  of  Amyclee, 
a  town  of  the  Morea,  was  performed  at  St.  Edmund's 
College,  by  the  venerable  Bishop  Poynter,  on  6th  August, 
1826*  It  was  at  the  risk  of  life  that  he  consented,  in  his 
delicate  state  of  health,  to  accept  a  residence  in  so  cold  a 
climate  But  legal  business  and  the  remonstrances  of  his 
family  and  of  his  medical  advisers  detained  him  in  England  ^ 
vet,  though  he  delayed  his  departure  from  time  to  time, 
he  never  abandoned  the  intention  of  proceeding  to  Canada. 
The  health  of  his  beloved  daughter  had  now  excited  the 
alarm  of  her  family,  and  required  the  experiment  of  a  milder 
climate;  and  Dr.  Weld  took  the  opportunity  of  accompany- 
ing her  and  her  husband,  that  he  might  visit  the  tombs  of 

E  2 


52  ACCOUNT   OF   THE   PRINCIPAL 

the  apostles  before  he  quitted  Europe.  Shortly  after  his 
arrival,  Cardinal  Alboni,  on  19th  Januarj,  1830,  announced 
to  his  lordship  that  His  Holiness  Pope  Pius  VIII.  had 
decided  on  honouring  him  with  the  purple,  to  mark  his  sense 
of  his  merits,  and  of  his  personal  regard  for  the  English 
nation.  The  15th  of  March  witnessed  his  admission  into 
the  College  of  Cardinals. 

Whilst  Rome,  and  every  country  where  his  name  was 
known,  applauded  the  honours  so  freely  conferred  on  distin- 
guished merit,  his  own  heart  was  sensibly  affected  at  being 
the  spectator  of  the  rapidly-declining  health  of  his  daughter. 
She  died  on  Sunday,  15th  May,  1831,  at  Palo,  about 
twenty-six  miles  from  Rome,  and  was  buried  on  the  18th  in 
St.  Marcellus'  church,  in  Rome,  from  which  his  eminence 
derived  his  title.  He  survived  her  nearly  six  years ;  viz.,  till 
Monday,  19th  April,  1837,  and  his  precious  remains  were 
deposited  near  hers,  with  unusual  solemnity ;  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff  attending,  and  affected  to  tears  whilst  consigning  his 
ashes  to  the  tomb. 

Joseph  Weld,  Esq.,  bom  27th  January,  1777,  already 
mentioned,  has  added  much  to  the  property  in  Dorset  since 
his  right  reverend  brother  made  Lullworth  over  to  him  in 
1828. 

The  Webbs,— The  founder  of  this  family  was  William 
Webb,  of  Salisbury,  merchant,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII. 
(See  the  visitation  of  Dorset  in  the  College  of  Arms,  C.  22.) 
By  marriage,  William,  the  son  of  the  founder,  obtained 
Motcombe,  in  com.  Dorset.  Sir  John  Webb,  in  the  early 
part  of  King  James  I.'s  reign,  purchased  Canford  estate,  for 
14,000/.;  but  I  find,  in  an  original  letter  written  in  the 
spring  of  1613,  that  Sir  John  Webb,  with  all  the  Catholic 
gentlemen  of  the  west  country  who  Uved  within  forty  miles 
of  the  sea,  were  sent  up  to  London ;  that  this  worthy  knight 
was  accused  of  having  made  the  purchase  with  money  from 
Spain,  and  he  must  receive  the  Spaniards  there ;  and  though 
he  proved  what  lands  he  had  sold  elsewhere  to  raise  that 
large  sum,  what  moneys  he  had  borrowed,  and  of  whom, 
and  the  causes  that  induced  him  to  make  that  purchase; 
though  even  Dr.  Abbott,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  expressly 
stated  to  the  Privy  Council,  "  This  is  no  more  than  any  of 
us  would  have  done ;"  yet  he  was  bid  to  choose  to  what  Pro- 
testant's house  he  would  be  committed.  Mr.  Harry  Shirlie, 
who  dwelt  in  a  thatched  house  opposite  Poole,  and  kept  a 
boat  to  carry  dung  to  his  farm,  was  suspected  of  having  the 
boat  to  receive  dangerous  persons ;  he  was  also  committed, 
as  were  Mr.  Coram,  and  the  rest. 


CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN    DORSETSHIRE.  63 

This  family  was  eminently  loyal.  In  the  Journals  of  the 
Commons,  Thursday,  20th  November,  1641,  the  person  of 
John  Webb,  of  Canford,  Esq.,  is  ordered  to  be  secured ;  but 
he  escaped,  and  was  enabled  to  render  his  sovereign  valuable 
service,  and  in  reward  of  the  sacrifices  he  made  in  defending 
the  royal  cause  was  created  a  baronet,  on  2nd  April,  1644. 
Major-General  Webb  was  so  dreadfully  wounded  at  the  first 
battle  of  Newbery,  fought  on  20th  September,  1643,  as  to 
die  shortly  after. 

In  the  course  of  this  work  it  will  be  seen  that  this  .family, 
one  of  the  wealthiest  among  the  commoners  of  England,  up 
to  the  time  of  the  late  Sir  John  Webb  (who  was  buried  at 
St.  Pancras,  London,  1797),  remained  stanch  to  the  old  reli- 
gion, and  maintained  several  missions  in  the  diocese. 

The  Husseys  of  Nash  Court,  in  MamhuU  parish,  for  the 
last  two  centuries  have  been  in  good  reputation.  For  the 
life  of  Giles  Hussey,  the  gifted  artist,  who  died  at  Beeston, 
in  Broad  Hempston  parish,  Devon,  17th  June  1788,  set. 
seventy-eight,  see  the  eighth  volume  of  Nichols's  "  Lite- 
rary Anecdotes.''  Hutchins,  "History  of  Dorset,"  vol.  ii. 
p.  500,  styles  him  '^  a  living  honour  of  the  county." 

At  Mr.  Duane's  sale,  the  celebrated  painter  West  bought 
some  of  his  pencilled  heads,  and  pronounced  a  judgment, 
and  such  an  encomium,  as  should  not  be  omitted.  "  I  will 
venture  to  show  this  head  against  any  other,  ancient  or 
modem ;  it  was  never  exceeded ;  no  man  had  ever  imbibed 
the  true  Grecian  character  and  art  deeper  than  Giles 
Hussey."  Several  specimens  of  the  genius  of  this  exemplary 
Catholic  may  be  seen  at  Nash  Court,  Lullworth,  &;c. 

Eastmonds. — Of  this  family  I  can  glean  nothing  whatever, 
except  from  Rymer's  "  Foedera,"  tom.  xviii.  p.  392,  where 
we  learn  the  complaint  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  King 
Charles,  that  in  the  house  of  Mary  Eastmond,  in  Dorset- 
shire, had  been  discovered,  by  two  justices  of  the  peace, 
divers  copes,  altars,  chalices,  &c.,  who  thereupon  tendered  to 
her  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  supremacy,  and  upon  her 
reftising  it,  committed  her  to  the  constable,  from  whose 
custody  she  made  her  escape;  yet  that  Secretary  Lord 
Conway  had  written  to  those  justices  in  her  favour  I 

Hutchins,  in  his  "  History  of  Dorset,"  vol.  i.  p.  276, 
informs  us  that  Mr.  Humphry  Coffin,  of  Wambrooke,  a 
Becusant,  had  his  rents  and  lands  sequestered  in  1645. 

Upon  the  whole,  if  Catholic  property  has  suffered  diminu- 
tion in  some  localities  within  the  county,  it  has  gained  it  in 
others.  The  Weld  family  has  made  some  purchases;  the 
Tichboumes  have  acquired  Upton,  near  Poole,  since  1829; 


64  CAVHOLIC   FAMILIES  IN    DOK8ST8HIRE. 

the  Huddlestones  hare  Punecandle,  near  Sherborne;  the 
Tuckers  are  proprietors  of  Filford^  in  Netherbury  parish; 
the  nuns  of  Spetisbury  are  the  real  possessors  of  their  con« 
yenient  premises.  And  on  its  very  borders^  near  Lyme,  the 
ancient  family  of  Talbot  has  purchased  the  fine  property  of 
Bhode  Hill,  in  Uplyme  parish,  and  has  proved  itself  the 
principal  support  of  the  Lyme  mission.  William  Maskell, 
Esq.,  has  also  Pickett  manor  and  farm,  within  the  parish  of 
South  Perrott,  and  the  manor  of  Wraxale,  in  the  county  of 
Dorset. 


THE   MISSIONS  OF   80MIB8BT8HIRE.  55 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THS  MISSIONS  OF   80MBR8KT8HIBI. 

Hs&B  indeed  is  subject  of  congratulation  to  religion,  and 
of  heartfelt  thanksgiving  to  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  fiuth. 
Within  the  last  half-century  the  missions  have  been  doubled. 
I  begin  with  Bath.  The  late  welUinformed  Dr.  Baines 
informed  me^  in  his  letter  dated  from  Bath  7th  December, 
1818,  that  this  mission  had  always  been  served  by  members 
of  the  Benedictine  order.  Its  Register,  unfortunately  burned 
by  the  fanatical  mob  in  June,  1780,  proved  this;  at  least 
firom  the  reign  of  James  II.  His  Majesty  reached  Bath  on 
18th  August,  1687,  and  remained  there  during  the  three 
following  days ;  he  returned  to  it  again  from  Holywell  on 
6th  September  following.  F.  Anselm  Williams  was  then  the 
incumbent.  For  a  long  period  the  missionary  residence,  as 
well  as  chapel,  was  at  Bdtre  House,  held  under  the  Corpora- 
tion of  Bath  at  a  ground-rent  of  8/.  per  annum.  The  name 
of  the  next  incumbent  that  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain 
is  F.  Bernard  Quin,  who  occurs  in  1718 ;  and  F.  William 
Banester,  who  died  16th  May,  1726;  then  that  eminent 
fiither  Dr.  Laurence  York,  who  succeeded  F.  Francis  Bruning. 
Dr.  York  had  been  prior  of  St.  Gregory's  at  Douay,  and  of 
St.  Edmund's  at  Paris,  before  his  arrival  at  Bath,  about  the 
year  1780.  His  prudent  seal,  in  very  difScult  times,  endeared 
him  to  the  venerable  Bishop  Pritchard,  Y.A.  of  the  Western 
District,  who  recommended  him  to  Rome  for  his  associate  in 
the  episcopal  office.  His  wish  was  readily  granted,  and  the 
consecration  of  the  new  prelate,  as  Bishop  of  Niba,  took 
place  on  10th  August,  1741.  During  the  rebellion  of  1745, 
a  fiibricated  letter  (no  uncommon  device  of  the  malevolent  at 
that  period)  was  forwarded  to  the  mayor  of  Bath,  and  ad- 
dressed, by  a  supposed  anonymous  partisan  of  the  rebellion, 
to  the  Bight  Rev.  Dr.  York.  It  thanked  the  bishop  for  the 
men  and  money  which  he  had  already  provided,  and  for  the 
supplies  which  he  had  promised ;  and  engaged  to  him  the 
see  of  Carlisle,  in  the  event  of  the  Prince's  success.  The 
mayor,  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  of  the  forgery,  waited  on 
Dr.  York  at  Beltre  House,  and  was  soon  convinced  of  the 
perfect  innocence  of  the  prelate,  and  of  the  malice  of  the 


66  THE    MISSIONS   OF   SOMERSETSHIRE. 

attempt  on  his  life  and  character ;  but^  under  all  the  circum- 
stances of  the  times^  suggested  the  expediency  of  withdrawing 
himself^  until  the  storm  blew  over.  This  prudent  counsel 
was  duly  acquiesced  in.  In  the  course  of  1745,  F.  Bernard 
Bradshaw  was  appointed  to  take  the  mission. 

On  the  death  of  Bishop  Pritchard,  22nd  May,  1750,  set. 
eighty-one,  the  responsibility  of  an  extensive  jurisdiction  over 
North  and  South  Wales,  the  counties  of  Monmouth  and 
Hereford,  in  addition  to  the  six  counties  comprising  the 
subject  of  this  compilation,  devolved  upon  Bishop  York. 
Years  and  infirmities  admonished  the  zealous  prelate  to  look 
out  for  a  coadjutor ;  and  the  choice  he  made  of  the  Bev. 
Dr.  Charles  Walmesley  ^  does  credit  to  his  discrimination  of 
character,  and  will  ever  entitle  his  memory  to  the  gratitude 
of  not  merely  the  diocese,  but  of  the  whole  English  Catholic 
body.  The  young  and  learned  doctor,  as  I  find  in  a  letter  of 
F*  John  Thorpe,  S.J.,  who  assisted  at  the  ceremony,  was 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Bama  by  Cardinal  Lanti,  on  Slst 
December,  1756,  in  the  Sodality  Chapel  of  the  English 
College  at  Rome. 

Dr.  York,  after  gracing  the  mitre  for  twenty-three  years, 
obtained  permission  of  Pope  Clement  XIII.  to  retire  from 
public  life.  This  event  was  announced  to  the  dergy  and 
faithful  of  the  district  on  12th  March,  1764.  He  chose  for 
his  retreat  St.  Gregory's  Convent,  at  Douay,  where  he  died 
in  the  arms  of  his  religious  bi-ethren,  14th  April,  1770,  octo^ 
genario  major, 

2.  F.  Anselm  Bradshaw  succeeded  Dr.  York  as  missionary 
in  1745 ;  but  I  cannot  ascertain  the  length  of  his  services, 
though  it  is  said  he  continued  until  1757.  He  died  eventu-' 
ally  at  Warrington,  20th  June,  1799. 

3.  F.  Placid  Naylor  served  Bath  about  twenty-one  years. 
He  ended  his  days  at  Paris  on  2nd  December,  1793. 

4.  John  Bade  Brewer^  D.D.,  was  ai^ointed  to  this  mission 
in  1776.  Encouraged  by  the  relaxation  of  the  penal  laws, 
two  years  later,  he  decided  on  erecting  a  chapel  in  St.  James's 
Parade;  for  the  one  at  Beltre  House  proved  inconvenient 
and  very  inadequate  for  its  purpose.  The  new  edifice  was 
announced  to  be  opened  for  public  worship  on  Sunday,  11th 
June,  1780;  but  on  Friday,  9th,  the  delegates  from  Lord 
Greorge  Gordon's  association  had  so  inflamed  the  fanaticism 
of  the  mob,  that  it  was  gutted  and  demolished,  as  well  as 
the  Presbyt^re  in  Bellotree  Lane;  and  the  registers,  diocesan 

*  For  an  account  of  Dr.  Waln^esley's  scientific  nttaini^ents,  see 
BuUer'fi  Memoirs,  vol.  ii.  312. 


THE    MISSIONS  OF  SOUBB8BT8HIBE.  57 

archives^  and  Bishop  Walmesley's  library  and  MSS.  perished 
irreooYerably  in  the  flames.  Dr.  Brewer  nearly  fell  a  victim 
to  the  savage  fury  of  the  rioters ;  he  was  porsued  through 
several  streets^  was  denied  admission  by  two  of  the  principal 
inns^  and  even  the  Town-hall ;  but  at  last  found  refuge  in 
the  Greyhound  Inn,  and  escaped  by  a  back  door.^  In  1781 
the  duties  of  president  of  his  brethren  called  him  away  firom 
Bath ;  and  subsequently,  Woolton,  near  Liverpool,  became 
his  principal  place  of  residence.  There  he  closed  a  meri- 
torious life  by  a  happy  death  on  18th  Aprils  1822,  set. 
seventy-nine. 

5.  F.  Michael  Pembridge  was  the  next  incumbent.  B«- 
quiring  assistance  in  the  discharge  of  his  increasing  duties, 
F.  Cuthbert  Simpson  was  assigned  him  as  associate;  but 
death  snatched  him  away  on  the  auspicious  feast  of  All  Saints, 
1785.  F.  Jerome  Digby  then  lent  him  his  valuable  aid  for 
some  time ;  on  whose  translation  F.  Joseph  Wilks  was  given  to 
him  for  coadjutor.  This  reverend  gentleman  possessed  superior 
colloquial  powers,  which  made  his  society  to  be  in  great  requi- 
sition. Unfortunately,  he  mixed  himself  up  too  intimately 
with  the  proceedings  of  the  Cisalpine  Club  in  1789  and  1791, 
and  laid  himself  open  to  the  severe  but  just  displeasure  of 
his  neighbour  and  immediate  diocesan,  and  Athanasius  of  our 
English  Church,  Dr.  Charles  Walmesley.  But  more  of  this  in 
the  biographical  part.  On  his  displacement,  the  Bev.  Hugh 
Heatly  followed,  and  during  his  short  ministry  edified  all 
classes  with  his  religious  spirit  and  pastoral  solicitude.  He 
fell  a  victim  to  typhus  fever  28th  April,  1792,  set.  thirty- 
three. 

In  the  meanwhile  good  F.  Pembridge  had  gone  on  labour- 
ing  in  the  vineyard,  and  prepared  a  new  chapel  in  Com* 
street,  opened  for  Christmas,  1786.  Ood  called  him  to  his 
Temple,  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,  on 
20th  May,  1806,  and  five  days  later  his  remains  were  de- 
posited near  those  of  his  venerable  friend  Bishop  Walmesley, 
m  St.  Joseph's  Chapel,  Bristol. 

6.  The  Rev*  Ralph  Ainswarth  served  this  mission  very  effici- 
ently bom  F.  Heatl/s  death  in  1792,  until  Ood  caUed  him  to 
Himself  on  5th  February,  1814,  set.  fifty.  His  assistants 
were,  1st,  F.  John  Augustine  Birdsall,  who  arrived  30th  May, 

*  The  ringleader  of  this  mob  and  incendiary  was  John  Butler.  In 
the  Gent.  Mag.  of  1780,  page  446,  we  iind  that  he  was  convicted  at  the 
following  assizes  at  Wells,  and  was  executed  on  28th  August,  <<near 
the  end  of  Pear-tree  Lane,  in  Bath,  without  the  least  disturbance." 
An  action  for  damages  was  brought  against  the  Hundred  of  Bath,  at 
Taunton,  dOth  March,  1781,  and  Dr.  Brewer  recovered  £3,734. 19^.  6d. 


58  THB   MISSIONS  OF  80MBR8BTBHIBB. 

1806,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  and  a  half  left,  to  com- 
mence the  flourishing  mission  of  Cheltenham,  of  whom  more 
hereafter;  2nd,  the  Bcf.  James  Calderbank,  who  arrived 
just  before  the  opening  of  the  new  church  on  3rd  December, 
1809,  and  who,  from  assistant,  became  seyenth  chief  pastor 
in  1814,  and  remained  such  till  July,  1817  (having  for  his 
associate  F.  Thomas  Rollings),  when  he  retired  to  Kyerpod, 
where  he  ended  his  days  9th  April,  1821. 

8.  The  Rev.  Peter  Augustine  Bainee,  of  whom  I  shall  have  to 
treat  largely  in  the  second  Part.  Suffice  it  at  present  to  say, 
that  he  unquestionably  availed  himself  of  the  progress  of 
light  and  public,  liberality,  from  his  entrance  into  office,  July, 
1817,  to  draw  attention  to  the  grandeur  and  solemnity  of 
our  services,  and  to  conciliate  the  minds  of  his  hearers  by  his 
dignified  and  persuasive  eloquence.  On  his  consecration  as 
coadjutor  bishop,  nearly  seven  years  later,  he  resigned  the 
ohai^  of  chief  pastor  at  Bath  to  his  individual  assistant 
from  the  beginning,  viz. — 

9.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Brindle. 

The  death  of  Bishop  CoUingridge,  at  Caimington,  on  Srd 
May,  1829,  occurred  whilst  his  coadjutor.  Dr.  Baines,  with 
the  right  of  succession  to  the  government  of  the  Western 
District,  was  sojourning  at  Rome  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. 
His  lordship  lost  no  time  in  appointing  Mr.  Brindle  to  be 
grand  vicar  and  administratar  of  the  diocese  €ui  interim,  and 
obtained  for  him  the  title  of  D.D.  In  December  the  same 
year,  his  lordship  efilscted  the  purchase  of  Prior  Park  for  a 
college  and  seminary,  and  got  several  members  of  the 
Benedictine  College  of  Amplrforth,  vis.  Dr.  Booker,  Dr. 
Burgess,  Dr.  Brindle^  and  F.  Metcalf,  to  be  secularised, 
to  conduct  his  new  establishment,  of  which  he  installed 
Dr.  Brindle  regent  or  president.  It  was  opened  for  the 
reception  of  students  July,  1880. 

10.  The  Rev.  Ra^h  Maurus  Cooper,  who  on  27th  June,  1828, 
was  admitted  as  assistant  priest  by  Dr.  Brindle,  and  endeared 
himself  to  his  flock  by  his  zeid,  discretion,  and  constancy  in 
his  religious  profession.  On  Dr.  Brindle's  retirement,  he,  of 
course,  succeeded  to  the  direction  of  the  important  and 
laborious  mission  of  Bath,  and  was  shortiy  after  provided 
by  the  Benedictine  Chapter  with  an  efficient  associate  in  the 
person  of  F.  John  Jerome  Jenkins.  Admirably  they  worked 
together  in  the  vineyard  of  our  Lord,  until  10th  October, 
1836,  when  he  left  Bath  for  the  mission  of  Bungajf,  in 
Suffolk,  and  was  replaced  by  the  Eev.  Joseph  Peter  Wilson, 
a  priest  of  much  experience.    But  when  the  new  vicariat  (^ 


THB   MISSIONS  OV  SOUBB8BT8HIBE.  59 

WaleSj  with  Monmouthshire  and  Herefordshire^  was  estab- 
lished in  1840,  and  separated  from  the  Western  District,  and 
the  learned  Dr.  Thomas  Joseph  Browne,  the  Prior  of  Down* 
side,  was  created  \U  first  diocesan,  then  F.  Wilson  was  chosen 
prior  in  his  place,  and  was  succeeded  at  Bath  by  the  Rev. 
Christopher  Austin  Shann.  At  the  end  of  two  years 
F.  Shann  quitted  to  make  way  for  the  Bev.  John  Clement 
Worsley. 

F.  Cooper,  who  for  twenty-three  years  and  a  half  had 
served  Bath,  obtained  permission  to  retire  in  1846.  The 
congregation,  to  mark  their  sense  of  esteem  and  gratitude^ 
presented  him  with  a  purse  of  200/.,  which  he  spent  for 
God's  love  on  the  sanctuary  of  his  little  chapel  at  Chipping 
Sodbury. 

11.  F.  John  Jerome  Jenkme,  the  provincial  of  his  brethren^ 
succeeded  as  head  pastor  on  8th  December,  1846,  to  the  joy 
of  his  former  flock,  after  ten  years'  separation.  He  retained 
the  ofSce  of  head  pastor  until  11th  October,  1860. 

12.  JF.  John  Clement  Worsley,  who  for  the  last  eight  years 
had  sealondy  discharged  the  office  of  assistant,  was  promoted^ 
on  F.  Jenkins's  retirement,  to  be  incumbent  of  the  mission, 
and  had  the  happiness  of  receiving  for  his  associate  the  Bev. 
Nicholas  Maurus  Hodgson.  Evary  one  who  witnesses  their 
Bucoessftd  zeal  and  friendly  co-operation  must  be  reminded 
of  the  exclamation  of  the  Psalmist,  ''Ecce  quam  bonum  et 
quam  jucundum,  habitare  fratres  in  unum." — (Ps.  cxxxii.) 

Since  July,  1865,  the  Bev.  Joseph  Shepherd  has  taken 
Mr.  Hodgson's  place. 

N.B.  I  apprehend  that  F.  Thomas  Ballyman,  who  died 
at  Bath  6th  August,  1796 ;  F.  Anselm  Oeaiy,  deceased  there 
on  28rd  March,  1795,  at  the  age  of  82;  F.  John  Bernard 
Warmoll,  who  was  the  bosom  fnend  of  Bishop  Walmesley^ 
and  ended  his  life  at  Acton  Bumell,  27th  April,  1807,  set.  87 ; 
and  FF.  Henry  Lawson,  Bede  Bigby,  Clement  Bishton,  and 
Aug.  BoUins,  had  rendered  temporary  assistance  to  the 
incumbents  at  Bath. 

Bishop  Baines,  conceiving  that  a  second  chapel  was 
required  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city,  hired  a  place  for 
divine  worship,  whiph  was  opened  26th  May,  1882,  and 
served  from  IVior  Park.  But  it  did  not  answer  his  expecta* 
tions.  Dr.  Crowe,  however,  having  converted  the  best  part 
of  his  house  in  Brunswick  Place  into  a  respectable  oratoryj 
drew  vast  numbers  by  his  zealous  exertions  and  eloquent 
sermons ;  and  at  his  retirement,  aiter  four  years'  labours  in 
the  sacred  ministry,  was  presented,  on  12th  December,  1851, 


60  THE    MISSIONS   OF   SOMERSETSHIRE. 

with  a  noble  chalice  and  paten  hy  his  grateful  flock.  (See 
"  Catholic  Standard/^  of  20th  December.)  Since  his  removal, 
a  new  chapel  has  been  erected  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Bonham,  though  placed  in  the  Ordo,  and  even  in  some 
i^ndent  documents,  as  in  Somersetshire,  is  really  in  Wilts. 
The  small  manor  and  tything  of  Bonham  had  formerly 
belonged  to  a  family  of  that  name  (Editha  Bonham,  elected 
abbess  of  Shaftesbury  15th  November,  1441,  obiit  20th 
April,  1460),  and  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
Stourtons.  Edward,  the  twelfth  Lord  Stourton,  who  aliened 
and  sold  off  most  of  the  family  estates  in  Dorset  and  Wilts, 
in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  still  retained 
this  manor,  and  there  fixed  the  priest,  who  was  generally  a 
member  of  the  Benedictine  order,  instead  of  at  Stourton.^ 
Charles  Philip,  the  sixteenth  Lord  Stourton,  sold  this  last 
remaining  property,  in  1785,  to  Henry  Hoare,  of  Stourhead, 
Esq.,  but  specially  reserved  the  presbytere  and  chapel. 

Cannington. — ^This  manor  was  granted  by  King  Charles  II, 
to  the  Lord  Treasurer  Clifford,  on  15th  July,  1672.  His 
son  and  successor,  Hugh,  Lord  Clifford,  frequently  resided 
at  its  noble  Court-house,  especially  after  his  eldest  son, 
Thomas,  settled  there.    This  promising  youth  married,  in 

1713,  Charlotte,  Baroness  Livingstone,  Viscountess  Kinnaird, 
and  Countess  Newburgh ;  but  dying  on  21st  February, 
1719,  N.S.,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two,  was  buried  in  the 
adjoining  parish  church.  The  remains  of  his  venerable 
father  were  deposited  near  him,  on  7th  October,  1730. 
From  all  that  I  can  collect,  a  chaplain  was  maintained  here 
until  1768,  when  the  family  establishment  was  broken  up, 
and  the  Bev.  William  Sutton  quitted  for  Axminster.  Nor 
can  I  discover  any  resident  missionary  here  until  1807,  wheu 
the  late  Lord  Clifford  afforded  to  the  Benedictine  Dames, 
who  were  obliged  to  leave  MamhuU  (where  they  had 
sojourned  from  Michaelmas,  1795),  '^  a  very  comfortable  and 
conventual  asylum,  at  Cannington  Court  House.'^  Here  they 
continued  forty-one  years,  until  their  late  removal  to  Little 
Heywood,  now  St.  Benedict's  Priory,  Stafford.  But  they 
left  behind  them  a  large  and  beautiful  chapel,  which  was 
opened  for  public  worship  7th  July,  1831.  This  missio/i, 
thanks  to  Ood,  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Shepton  MaUett.— At  the  Michaelmas  of  1765,  the  B.ev. 
John  Brewer,  S.  J.,  originated,  I  believe,  the  mission  here ; 
and  served  it  until  his  death,  1st  September,  1797.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.   James  Hussey,  who  expended  his 

*  The  first  priest  I  meet  with  here  is  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bruning  in 

1714.  He  died  there,  6th  August,  1719. 


THE    MISSIONS   OF   SOMERSETSHIRE.  61 

fortune  in  the  purchase  of  a  fields  in  which  he  erected  a 
presbytere;  laid  the  foundation-stone  of  the  chapel  of 
St.  Nicholas^  on  15th  October^  1801^  and  opened  it  for  public 
worship  on  29th  Aprils  1804.  The  learned  Dr.  Coombes 
accepted  the  charge  of  the  mission  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
Hussey^  in  1810 ;  for  nearly  forty  years  he  continued^  with 
an  assistant  from  Stonyhurst^  to  superintend  the  establish* 
ment;  when  he  finally  surrendered  the  concern  to  the 
Jesuits^  on  12th  June^  1849^  and  retired  to  Downside^  where 
he  tranquilly  yielded  his  soul  to  the  Prince  of  Shepherds^  on 
15th  November,  1850,  set.  eighty-four,  sac.  fifty-nine.  The 
Bishop  of  Clifton,  since  1854,  has  undertaken  the  care  of  the 
congregation.  May  his  disinterested  zeal  be  blessed  with 
a  rich  harvest  of  souls !  The  Rev.  James  Dawson  is  the  new 
pastor. 

Shortwood. — ^I  believe  there  was  no  resident  priest  herd 
until  1794,  when  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hunt,  of  Stone-Easton,  veri 
Beaumont,  and  his  family  connections  began  the  endowment. 
Since  the  retirement  of  that  venerable  man,  in  1838, 1  have 
seen  a  rapid  variety  of  incumbents  j  but  since  1st  April, 
1852,  the  mission  has  had  the  advantage  of  the  experience 
and  energy  of  the  Rev.  T.  M.  Macdonnell. 

Its  chapel  of  St.  Michael  was  opened  15th  May,  1806. 
Taunton, — ^The  Rev.  George  Baudoin,  bom  at  Munkton 
(see  the  biographical  part  of  this  work),  fitted  up  a  room  in 
his  house.  East  Street,  Taunton,  about  the  year  1782,  for  a 
handful  of  attendants,  and  was  very  reduced  in  circumstances. 
His  latter  days  were  rendered  much  more  comfortable  by 
the  settlement  of  the  English  Franciscan  nuns  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  town,  in  June,  1 808,  and  by  the  assist*- 
ance  he  derived  in  the  ministry  from  Bishop  Collingridge, 
and  the  chaplains  of  that  convent.  Worn  out  with  infirmi- 
ties, the  venerable  man  closed  a  blameless  life  on  14th  May, 
1818,  set.  sixty-nine.  An  active  successor  was  assigned  in 
the  person  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Fisher,  O.S.F.,  who  arrived 
12th  November  following.  So  rapid  was  the  increase  of 
Catholicity,  that  the  foundation-stone  of  a  large  chapel,  in 
honour  of  St.  George,  was  laid  by  Thomas  Clifton,  of 
Lytham,  Esq.,  then  living  at  Hatch,  on  18th  April,  1821  • 
It  bears  this  inscription  : — 

Honor! 
Sancti  Geoigii 

Haec  JEAe%  a  solo  est  inchoata 

Id.  Aprilis  An.  mdcccxxi, 

Lapidem  Auspicalem  statuente 
Thom&  Clifton  Armigeroi 


63  THB   MISSIONS  OF  80MBBSBT8HIBB. 

It  was  solemnly  opened  on  8rd  July^  1822,  and  Dr.  Baines 
preached  on  the  occasion.  I  rejoice  to  add,  that  this 
mission  is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

As  to  the  beautiful  convent  church,  blessed  on  11th 
November,  1811,  by  the  title  of  Our  Lady  of  Dolors,  'I 
shall  simply  say  that  it  is  well  attended;  and  that  the 
charity  and  seal  of  the  saintly  community  is  a  prolific  source 
of  blessings  and  of  light  to  a  town,  where  less  than  a  century 
back  there  was  but  one  Catholic,  and  she  a  convert  1 

Leiffhland,  in  the  parish  of  Old  Cleeve,  was  the  property 
of  the  Poyntz  family.  From  them  it  descended  to  the 
Bowes,  in  the  reign  of  William  III.  John  Eowe,  as  I  learn 
from  the  parish  register  of  Arlington,  married  Ursula  Chi- 
chester, on  25th  November,  1697,  yet  left  no  issue ;  but  to 
him  William  Widdicombe,  Esq.,  devised  his  estate  of  Bick- 
ham,  adjoining.  Bobert  Bowe,  the  nephew  of  the  said 
John,  married  Prudence  Chichester,  15th  August,  1706,  and 
had  several  children ;  one  of  them,  Elizabeth,  became  the 
wife  of  John  Needham,  of  Hilston,  county  Monmouth.  At 
Leighland,  as  I  shall  show  in  the  sixteenth  chapter,  a 
chaplain  was  maintained,  chiefly  of  the  Benedictine  order, 
down  to  our  times. 

Doumiide. — Here,  indeed,  we  have  cause  to  offer  up  the 
homaffe  of  grateful  hearts  to  Ood,  the  lover  of  man^s  salva- 
tion, K>r  conducting  the  sons  of  St,  Benedict  to  this  once«> 
benighted  spot.  They  arrived  here,  firom  Acton  Bumell, 
towards  the  end  of  April>  1814,  and  have  established 
the  monastery  of  St.  Gregory,— an  excellent  college, — with 
an  increasing  mission.  The  church,  in  the  best  sbrle  of 
King  Henry  III.'s  time,  62  feet  long  by  26  broad,  and 
40  feet  high,  which  was  opened  with  great  splendour  on 
10th  July,  1823,  is  now  pronounced  to  be  much  too  small, 
and  a  larger  one  is  contemplated.  But  I  reserve  my 
account  of  this  interesting  establishment  for  a  subsequent 
chapter.  Attached  to  the  mission  is  a  public  Catholic 
school  in  the  contiguous  village  of  Stratton,  with  a  cemetery 
and  cross. 

Prior  Park. — In  the  Life  of  Bishop  Baines,  in  the  second 
part  of  this  compilation,  may  be  seen  the  history  of  this 
extensive  and  splendid  establishment,  opened  in  1830,  but 
doomed  to  a  brief  existence.  The  truth  is,  too  much 
was  attempted  at  once.  In  the  midst  of  its  embarrass* 
ments,  even  a  grand  collegiate  church  was  projected, 
and  its  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  12th  March,  1844. 
The  following  extract  of  a  Pastoral  Letter,  dated  Clifton, 
Ist    January,  1856,   addressed  by  George,   archbishop   of 


TH8   MISSIONS  OF  80MERSBT8HIBB.  68 

Trebisond,  and  Apostolic  Admimstrator  of  the  diocese  of 
Clifton,  annonncing  to  all  its  clergy  and  laity  the  dissoln- 
tion  of  the  college  of  Prior-Park,  will  be  read  with  deep 
interest. 

''The  resources  of  this  district  had  been  deeply  drained  in  the  first 
establishment  of  the  institution  in  1890 ;  an  unfortunate  fire,  a  Tery 
few  years  after,  reauired  new  calls  upon  exhausted  means  and  publio 
liberality,  and  produced  an  embarrassment  from  which  the  place  never 
Teoovered.  The  chances  of  permanent  success  became  gradually  more 
doubtful;  and,  in  1847,  a  commission  appointed  by  the  Holy  See 
reported  that  very  considerable  modifications  and  very  great  exertions 
would  be  required  to  give  a  fi&ir  prospect  of  restoring  prosperity ;  but 
that  on  account  of  the  property  invested  in  the  place,  it  was  advisable 
that  no  endeavours  should  be  left  untried  to  rescue  it  by  securing  the 
permanency  of  the  college.  Subsequently,  the  buildings^  with  aamost 
all  the  lands  annexed,  were  sold  to  pay  off  the  most  urgent  portion  of 
the  mortgages,  and  then  held  on  lease  from  the  purchaser.  The  diffi- 
culties continued  to  increase ;  and  in  1852  a  new  commission  was  of 
opinion^  that  unless  a  large  sum  could  be  raised  at  once,  without  the 
formation  of  a  new  debt,  to  meet  the  most  embarrassing  pressure,  and 
efiectual  provision  be  made  at  the  same  time  for  such  modifications  as 
might  put  a  stop  to  the  annual  deficit  in  the  accounts,  it  would  be 
better  to  close  the  establishment  than  to  struggle  on  in  the  hope  of 
saving  the  funds  abeady  sunk,  with  so  great  a  risk  of  increasing  in 
the  mean  time  the  permanent  liabilities.  The  late  bishop  of  this 
diocese  believed  that  both  the  required  conditions  might  be  fulfilled, 
and,  as  you  are  aware,  dedicated  his  unceasing  exertions  to  this 
attempt,  listed  by  personal  canvass  the  charity  of  the  country  in  its 
behalf,  and  finally  fell  a  victim  to  the  weight  of  the  burden  ne  had 
undertaken. 

^Another  experiment  now  appeared  to  have  been  made,  with  no 
bett^permanent  results  than  those  which  had  been  tried  before ;  and 
the  Holy  See  was  unwilling  that  the  resources  and  energies  of  a 
sacoeeding  bishop  should  be  exposed  to  be  exhausted  in  mere  experi« 
ment,  ana  resolved  that  the  appointment  of  a  successor  should  be 
delayed  till  it  was  clearly  established  whether  or  no  the  coll^^e  could 
be  really  and  effectually  malnUdned.  It  was  not  well  for  the  diocese 
that  the  time  and  care  of  the  bishop  should  be  permanentiy  engrossed 
l^  one  object ;  but  that  one  object  was  of  such  paramount  importance^ 
that  it  was  only  by  its  being  really  secured  if  possible,  or  wholly 
renounced  if  impracticable,  that  the  anxiety  and  attention  of  the  pastor 
could  be  relieved.  Af  un,  the  amount  of  capital  provided  for  eccle- 
siastical education  and  other  puiposes,  invested  in  this  undertaking, 
rendered  it  advisable  to  employ  all  available  resources  in  maintaining 
the  establishment  to  save  the  investments ;  but  this  employment  of  the 
means  contributed  for  religious  purposes,  whilst  It  was  the  oest  possible, 
provided  there  was  security  of  nnal  succese,  was  doubly  prejudicial  if 
failure  should  ultimately  take  place :  for  whilst  on  the  one  hand,  other 
useful  objects  were  len  unattempted,  or  unsupported  as  they  would 
have  otherwise  been ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  amount  itself  <»  public 
aid  was  considerably  diminished,  from  the  opinion,  entertained  by  those 
who  had  not  faith  m  the  permanency  of  the  college,  that  it  was  only 
throwing  their  means  away  to  contribute  what  would  in  reality  be 
wasted  ux>on  vain  attempts  to  support  it.  Nor  was  it  only  in  this  single 
respect  tnat  the  evil  fruits  were  manifested  of  diversity  of  opinion  in  a 


64  THE    MISSIONS   OF   80MEBSBTSHIRE. 

society  upon  a  matter  of  great  and  practical  importance ;  the  doubts 
hanging  over  the  stability  of  the  college^  and  the  consequent  variety  of 
views  as  to  what  line  of  conduct  relative  to  it  was  the  true  interest  of 
the  diocese,  had  gradually  led  to  the  existence  of  party  feeling  on  the 
subject,  which  in  this  as  in  similar  cases  could  not  fail  to  increase  as 
time  went  on  without  a  solution  of  the  problem ;  and  it  would  have 
been  extremely  difficult  for  a  bishop  anpointed  to  the  diocese  to  have 
escaped  the  lasting  inconveniences  of  having  been  considered  by  one 
party  or  the  other  as  a  partisan  and  opponent.  It  was  for  these  reasons 
that  a  temporary  admmistrator  was  appointed,  and  directed  to  bring 
the  question  to  a  positive  conclusion  one  way  or  the  other. 

**  The  examination  of  the  accounts  since  1852  showed  an  increase  of 
debt,  notwithstanding  the  results  of  the  extraordinary  exertions  of  the 
late  devoted  bishop ;  the  source  from  which  the  supplies  necessary  to 
meet  the  deficiencies  had  hitherto  been  drawn  had  gradually  been 
exhausted,  and  any  further  deficiency  must  have  risked  being  not  met, 
and  even  tradesmen's  bills  left  unpaid ;  at  the  same  time  public  con- 
fidence seemed,  from  the  smaller  number  of  the  students,  to  have 
diminished ;  and  it  would  have  required,  besides  the  clearance  of  the 
outstanding  accounts,  that  from  some  source  a  large  amount  should  be 
able  to  be  counted  upon  to  cover  the  annual  deficiency  that  must  be 
expected  till,  after  some  years,  the  restoration  of  public  confidence  should 
have  provided  a  number  of  students  sufficient  for  the  requirements  of 
the  establishment.  Without  seeing  a  way  to  meet  this  apparently 
absolutely  necessary  condition  for  moral  security,  to  attempt  to  carry 
on  the  college  once  more  would  only  have  been  to  renew  experiments 
and  multiply  exertions  and  sacrifices  fruitlessly,  and,  as  the  result  sHows, 
prejudicially  tried  already.  It  was,  therefore,  from  a  feeling  that 
unless  Divine  Providence  should  point  out  resources  unperceived  by 
us,  it  would  not  be  right  to  recommend  another  experiment, — that  we 
requested  your  earnest  prayers  in  Advent,  knowing  that  the  goodness 
of  the  Almighty  would  not  give  you  a  stone  in  return  for  your  petition 
for  bread. 

"  The  necessity  of  a  decision  on  the  subject  was  however  prevented 
by  circumstances.  A  large  amount  of  arrears  of  rent  was  due,  and  on 
the  first  of  the  year  legal  proceedings  were  taken  by  the  landlord. 
These  proceedings  of  coui'se  alarmed  other  creditors,  and  oth$r  claims 
were  urged.  The  property  still  remaining  on  the  premises  was  valued 
and  estimated  as  more  than  equal  to  these  outstanding  claims,  to  satisfy 
which  in  the  first  instance  it  is  belpg  sold :  if  a  surplus  remains,  it 
will  be  applied  to  the  partial  rescue  of  the  various  funds  sunk  in  the 
establishment. 

<<  It  is  not  then  an  unmitigated  calamity  with  which  it  has  pleased 
Grod  to  visit  the  diocese.  If  it  has  seemed  well  to  Him  that  we  should 
not  have  to  exult  in  the  possession  of  a  magnificent  establishment,  it  is 
not  only  a  lesson  of  humiliation  and  conformity  to  His  will  that  we  are 
taught,  but  you  will  be  free  to  employ  your  energies,  heretofore  para- 
lyzed by  being  taxed  above  their  capacity,  to  more  purpose  on  other 
ODJects  tending  to  advance  God's  honour  and  your  own  welfare.  If  a 
great  loss  has  been  sustained  in  the  disappearance  of  funds,  derived 
from  former  contributions  for  religious  pu^oses,  sunk  in  the  college, 
you  will  feel,  on  the  other  hand,  that  your  charity  will  no  longer  be 
drained  off  in  support  of  a  doubtful  undertaking ;  while  the  training 
of  ecclesiastical  students,  the  principal  object  of  tne  maintenance  of  the 
colleg^,  may  be  as  effectually  carried  on  elsewhere,  and  at  no  more  cost 
than  it  has  been  there  for  each,  since  the  embarrassment  prevented  the 


THE    MISSIONS   OF   SOMERSETSHIRE.  65 

existence  of  a  surplus^  representing  the  interest  of  the  funds  sunk  as 
appropriated  to  that  purpose.  The  source  of  disunion,  and  consequent 
weakness,  in  your  exertions  for  the  general  good  of  the  diocese,  will 
have  been  removed ;  and  in  peace  and  unity  you  will  as  one  man,  each 
nsing  the  full  extent  of  his  power,  and  tending  to  one  object  under  the 
guidance  of  your  future  pastor,  soon  obliterate  the  feeling  of  grief  you 
at  present  experience,  and  find,  in  the  new  monuments  of  zeal  and 
liberality  that  will  arise  in  the  midst  of  you,  consolation  and  joy  similar 
to  that  described  in  the  history  of  the  festivities  at  the  dedication  of  the 
second  temple.  The  same  Lord  who  gave  Job  wealth  and  happiness, 
and  allowed  misfortune  and  misery  to  take  for  a  time  the  place  of  that 
wealth  and  happiness^  restored,  when  the  purposes  of  trial  had  been 
answered,  the  mvours  originally  granted,  and  blessed  the  latter  end  of 
Job  more  than  the  beginning.  'The  Lord  has  given,  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away ;  may  the  name  of  the  Lord  be  blessed.' " 

Midford  Castle^  about  three  miles  and  a  half  from  Bath. 
The  estate  here  was  purchased  bj  the  late  Mr.  ConoUy,  and 
at  Midford  House  mass  was  first  celebrated  in  the  year  1820; 
for  seven  years  it  was  served  by  different  priests  from  Down- 
side College.  A  chapel  was  then  opened  in  Midford  Castle^ 
on  3rd  May^  1837^  by  the  worthy  squire^  and  was  served 
generally  from  Downside^  until  1841,  when  Prior  Park 
undertook  to  minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  family. 
But  there  was  no  resident  missionary  there,  until  September, 
1846,  when  the  Rev.  Charles  Parfitt  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment. From  his  letter  of  12th  July,  1855,  I  learn  that  he 
had  then  sixty-two  Catholics  at  Midford,  and  that  he  has 
established  a  poor  school. 

Bridgewater, — In  consequence  of  the  conversion  of  the 
Rev.  J.  Moore  Capes,  minister  of  the  new  church  of  St.  John 
here^  Bishop  Baggs  decided  on  having  a  chapel  in  this  town. 
The  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  2nd  October,  1845,  and 
on  17th  February,  1846,  it  was  opened  under  the  patronage 
of  St.  Joseph.  The  Rev.  Jacob  lUingworth,  the  priest  of 
Cannington,  and  his  successor  there,  Dr.  English,  in  their 
zeal  and  charity  duplicated  for  the  benefit  of  the  rising 
congregation,  until  1850,  when  F.  Bernard  Morewood 
and  F.  Peter  de  Pozzo  rendered  assistance  between  them, 
until  the  summer  of  1851.  Two  or  three  Dominicanesses 
of  the  third  Order  attempted  to  establish  a  house;  but 
the  experiment  failed.  It  is  pleasing  to  know  that  the 
prospects  of  religion,  since  the  appointment  of  a  resident 
pastor.  Rev.  Thomas  Francis  Rooker,  in  March,  1852,  are 
very  encouraging.  With  the  children  in  the  school  we  can 
calculate  already  about  200  Catholics. 

Frome. — I  cannot  do  better  than  copy  the  letter  of  the 
Rev.  Richard  Ward  (late  vicar  of  St.  Saviour's,  at  Leeds,  and 

f 


6G  THE    MISSIONS   OP   SOMBRSBTSHIRK. 

now  incumbent  of  this  mission)^  addressed  to  me  July  9th, 
1855  :— 

''The  Frome  mission  owes  its  origin  to  the  zeal  of  the  good  fathers 
of  St.  Gregory's  College,  Downside,  who  np  to  1860  were  indefatigahle 
in  attending  to  the  wants  of  snch  sick  and  miirm  Catholics  as  happened 
from  time  to  time  to  he  found  in  this  town  and  neighbourhood.  In 
January^  1850,  the  arrival  of  a  newly-married  pair  of  conrerts  to  set 
up  a  ^ocery  business  on  a  yer^  humble  scale  gave  occasion  to  an 
extension  of  their  labours.  At  this  date  the  Her.  John  Hall,  then  mis- 
sionary at  Downside,  ^Jf  said  Mass  in  the  small  parlour  of  this  worthy 
couple  (Downing),  and  four  persons  besides  themselves  were  present 
at  it.  He  came  again  for  the  same  purpose  every  other  Sunday, 
a  distance  of  nine  miles,  until  August  that  year,  when  a  very  incommo- 
dious room — but  the  brat  and  largest  that  could  be  procured — ^was 
opened  as  a  Catholic  chapel ;  and  from  that  time  until  the  end  of  July, 
1853,  either  he  or  one  of  his  confreres  came  every  Sunday  to  attend  the 
little  flock.  In  July,  1858,  it  was  represented  to  me  that  the  Benedic- 
tines were  able  no  longer  to  spare  a  pnest,  and  that,  as  the  bishop  of 
Clifton  was  in  equal  straits,  the  Frome  mission  would  have  to  be  given 
up,  unless  /  consented  to  take  it.  At  the  urgent  entreaty  of  the  bishop, 
I  agreed  to  supply  it  for  two  years,  and  came  to  reside  in  the  following 
October.  Soon  after,  a  piece  of  ground  was  purchased  in  the  most 
central  and  desirable  part  of  Frome,  and  an  old  building,  called 
'  St.  Catherine's  Tower/  was  converted  into  the  priest's  house,  and  the 
new  church  opened  on  16th  July,  1854,  a  building  53  feet  long  by 
17  broad,  but  eventually  intended  to  be  no  more  than  a  school-room. 
On  the  whole,  the  progress  of  religion  is  of  a  very  consoling  and  encou- 
raging nature.  Many  Protestants  have  begun  to  inquire  into  the 
grounds  of  our  holy  faith,  and  several  have  been  instructed  and 
received  into  the  one  fold  ;  nor  have  I  found  that  the  fact  of  my  having 
officiated  formerly  as  curate  of  Su  Edmund's j  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood, has  at  all  tended  to  make  my  cause  more  difficult,  but  rather 
the  reverse."  * 

Weston-super-Mare. — In  the  summer  of  1851,  a  large 
room  was  taken  here,  with  the  approbation  of  Bishop 
Hendren,  by  the  fathers  of  the  S.J.  at  Bristol,  who  served 
it  during  the  six  summer  months.  In  the  following  year, 
Bishop  Burgess  engaged  the  same  for  a  similar  purpose,  and 
the  clergy  of  Clifton  Cathedral  have  officiated  there  during 
the  summer  season  in  favour  of  Catholic  visitors.  I  trust, 
ere  long,  a  resident  incumbent  will  be  assigned  to  this 
fashionable  watering-place. 

At  Meadgate,  in  Camerton  parish,  once  the  property  of 
the  Coombes  family,  and  where  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Coombes 
was  born,  8th  May,  1768,  and,  I  think,  his  reverend  uncle, 
of  the  same  name,  before  him,  4th  August,  1744,  N.S.,  Mass 
used  to  be  celebrated,  as  the  doctor  assured  me.  It  is  now 
converted  into  a  public-house. 

♦  L'Abb^  Faugfere,  bom  at  Chatres  13th  December,  1764,  emigrated 
2l8t  November,  1792,  resided  for  a  considerable  time  at  Frome. 


THE    MISSIONS   OP    SOM£B8£TSHIRE.  67 

I  must  not  forget  to  relate  that  Chard^  on  the  confines 
of  Dorset,  Devon,  and  Somersetshire,  was  the  scene  of  the 
barbarous  execution  of  the  Rev.  John  Hambley,  a  priest  of 
Douay  College.  Of  this  native  of  Somersetshire,  who  appears 
to  have  suffered  on  20th  July,  1587,  I  shall,  in  the  second 
part,  supply  some  interesting  details  unknown  to  the  faithful 
chronicler  Dr.  Challoner. 


p  2 


68  ACCOUNT   OF    CATHOLIC 


CHAPIER  VIII. 

SOME   ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN   SOMERSETSHIRE. 

AuDLKY,  Lord  Castlehaven. — ^The  family  of  Tuchet,  orTouchet, 
is  very  ancient  in  this  county.  William  was  summoned  to 
Parliament  as  the  first  Baron  Audley  from  1299  to  1306. 

Mervyn,  the  ninth  Lord  Audley,  and  second  earl  of  Castle- 
haven, succeeded  his  father  George*  in  1617.  I  find  him 
presented  by  the  House  of  Commons,  on  27th  April,  1624, 
as  a  Papist  recusant. — (See  Journals  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  776.)  But 
shortly  after  he  proved  a  disgrace  to  the  religion  of  his  fore- 
fathers by  his  open  apostasy  at  the  Salisbury  assizes,  and 
by  his  disgusting  and  atrocious  crimes,  for  which  he  was 
deservedly  attainted  and  executed  on  Tower-hill,  14th  May, 
1631.  Dodd,  in  his  "Church  History,"  vol.  iii.  p.  167, 
gives  the  following  account  of  this  unfortunate  peer,  from 
the  pen  of  Mr.  Smith, — probably  Rev.  William  Smith,  S.J., 
chaplain  at  Wardour,  who  died  13th  September,  1658,  set. 
sixty-four : — 

'*  My  lord  of  CasUehsven  first  fell  from  his  faith  to  be  married  with 
this  woman  that  accused  him.  That  morniDg  he  first  went  to  church, 
one  of  his  coach-horses  killed  the  coachman  before  they  set  out.  The 
first  niffht  he  lay  with  this  woman  he  was  taken  with  a  lameness  on 
one  side.  The  first  time  he  brought  his  lady  to  Suntill  (Fon thill) 
House,  part  of  the  house  was  set  on  fire,  and  Mr.  Smith  was  sent  out 
for  an  Agnua  Dd  to  auench  it.  At  Salisbury,  where  my  lord  at  the 
assizes  openly  abjured  his  religion,  the  bill  was  first  found  against  him 
that  cut  off  his  head." 

Two  of  his  servants,  accomplices  of  his  abominations, 
were  hanged.  The  woman  here  mentioned  was  his  second 
wife,  Anne,  daughter  of  Ferdinando,  earl  of  Derby,  and 
relict  of  Orey,  Lord  Chandos.  He  married  her  at  Harefield, 
22nd  July,  1624.  By  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  (Bamham), 
he  left  three  sons, — James,  who  was  restored  to  blood  3rd 
June,  1643,  by  King  Charles  I.,  and  who  had  been  reported 
to  the  House  of  Commons  on  20th  November,  1641,  as  '^  a 

*  Bv  marrying  Lucy,  daughter  of  Sir  James  Mervyn,  he  got  the 
Fonthul  estate,  in  Wilts.  His  second  wife,  Ann  Noel,  was  a  generous 
benefactor  to  St.  Bonaventure's  Convent  at  Douay,  lftl8. 


FAMILIES   OF    SOMERSETSHIRE.  69 

recusant,  whose  person  ought  to  be  secured/'  Fortunately, 
he  had  reached  Ireland  about  Michaelmas  that  year^  as  we 
learn  from  his  remonstrance,  printed  at  the  end  of  Dr.  Curry's 
''Historical  and  Critical  Review  of  the  Civil  Wars  in  Ireland." 
This  noble  lord  closed  a  life  of  persecution  at  Kilrush,  in 
CO.  Kildare^  on  11th  October,  1684.  His  brother  Gteorge,  a 
professed  Benedictine,  of  Douay  convent,  of  whom  more 
in  the  biographical  account,  was  appointed  chaplain  to  Queen 
Catherine,  at  Somerset  House,  in  1671.  The  third  son. 
Colonel  Mervyn  Touchet,  succeeded  his  brother  James,  and 
had  married  Mary,  youngest  daughter  of  John  Talbot,  tenth 
earl  of  Shrewsbury,  and  relict  of  Charles  Arundell,  Esq. 

Elizabeth,  countess  of  Castlehaven,  a  daughter  of  Henry, 
fifth  Lord  Arundell,  and  relict  of  James,  sixth  earl,  was 
buried  at  St.  Pancras  in  1743.  In  1777  the  title  of  Castle- 
haven was  extinct,  by  failure  of  issue  male.  The  family 
seems  to  have  had  larger  possessions  in  Wilts  than  in  Somer- 
setshire. It  is  cheering  to  know  that  Pyhouse  is  now 
returned  into  Catholic  hands. 

The  Waldegraves  had  long  been  established  at  Chewton, 
in  Somersetshire.  I  read  in  Machyn's  Diary,  which  Strype 
afterwards  copied  into  his  "  History  of  the  Reformation,^'— 

"April  22, 1661,  Sir  Edward  Walgrave"  (incorrectly  called  Henry 
by  Dodd),  '*  knight  —  who  was  a  great  officer  in  Queen  Mary's 
court,  and  a  Privy  Counsellor, — and  his  lady  were  carried  to  the 
Tower.  It  was  for  hearing  Mass,  having  a  popish  priest  in  their 
house.  This  knight  and  his  lady  had  the  character  of  very  good  alms- 
foikes,  in  respect,  no  doubt,  of  Uieir  great  liberality  to  the  poor.  Sep- 
tember 1, 1561,  Sir  Edward  Walgrave,  who  was  brought  to  the  Tower 
last  April,  dyed  there.  His  confinement  was  thought  to  be  the  cause 
of  his  death.  He  was  much  swoln.  The  3rd  dav  of  September 
he  was  buried  in  the  quire  of  the  Tower  church  beside  the  altar 
by  torch  liffht,  and  the  sixth  day  the  Lady  Walgrave  came  out  of 
the  Tower.'^ 

Sir  Henry  Waldegrave,  the  fourth  baronet,  was  made 
baron  of  Chewton  by  King  James  II.,  20th  January,  1686, 
but  died  at  Paris  three  yeai's  later,  leaving  a  son  and  heir, 
James,  second  Baron  Waldegrave  of  Chewton.  This  noble- 
man abjured  the  religion  of  his  forefathers  about  the  year 
1723,  and  in  consequence  was  loaded  with  perishable  honours 
and  titles,  of  which  death  stripped  him  11th  April,  1741,  at 
Navestock,  Essex.  On  his  death-bed,  alluding  to  his  taking 
the  oaths  of  supremacy  and  abjuration,  he  put  his  hand  to 
his  tongue,  and,  to  the  terror  of  the  bystanders,  made  use  of 
this  exclamation  :  '*  This  bit  of  red  rag  has  been  my  damna- 
tion.^'   This  anecdote  I  have  repeatedly  heard  from  the  late 


70  ACCOUNT   OP   CATHOLIC 

Thomas  Taunton^  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  most  retentive 
memory  and  unimpeachable  veracity  *  He  had  received  it 
from  his  aunt,  Ann  Taunton,  who  died  in  1788,  «t.  eighty- 
seven,  and  whose  sister,  Orace  Taunton,  died  in  1760,  «t. 
eighty-two,  and  was  wife  to  Mr.  Dillon,  then  his  lordship's 
steward. 

Sir  William  Waldegrave,  M.D.  (physician  to  the  queen  of 
King  James  II.),  was  returned  by  the  College  of  Physicianfl, 
1st  July,  1689,  as  a  Papist.f 

Cottingtons. — Sir  Francis  Cottington,  whom  Lord  Claren- 
don describes  as  '^  a  very  wise  and  prudent  man,  well  versed 
in  business  of  all  kinds,  and  oi  a  sedateness  of  temper  much 
to  be  admired,  and  spoke  and  understood  the  Spanish,  French, 
and  Italian  languages,^'  was  created  baron  of  Hanworth,  co. 
Middlesex,  10th  Jaly,  1631,  and  was  of  Godmanston,  in 
Somersetshire.  At  what  precise  period  he  was  reconciled  to 
the  Church  I  cannot  discover.  His  estates  were  sold  by  the 
Rump  Parliament  on  16th  July,  1651.  His  lordship  died 
most  piously  at  Valladolid,  19th  June,  1652,  at.  seventy-four. 
For  twenty-seven  years  his  body  lay  in  the  Jesuits'  church 
there,  whence  it  was  removed  to  Westminster  Abbey  by 
Charles,  his  nephew  and  heir.  The  title  died  with  his  lord-i 
ship.  Charles,  his  only  son,  by  his  lady,  Anne  Meredith, 
at  whose  baptism,  at  Hanworth,  King  Charles  I.  assisted 
with  the  duke  of  Buckingham  and  the  marchioness  of  Hamil- 
ton, 2l8t  July,  1628,  dying  eight  years  later  in  vitd  patria, 

*  This  venerable  gentleman,  of  whom  the  Catholic  body  might  be 
justly  proud,  was  l^rn  9th  June,  1745,  at  Veres  Wotton,  near  Brid- 
port,  and  died  17th  March,  1828,  at  Axminster,  where  he  had  a  good 
property,  as  well  as  in  Somersetshire.  His  exemplary  lady  (Margaret) 
preceded  him  to  the  erave  with  all  his  children,  but  Theresa,  who 
married  Charles  Knight,  of  Cannington,  Esq. 

t  The  following  is  communicated  by  my  friend  Dr.  Munk,  of  London. 
"  College  of  Phydcians, 

**  1679,  March  29. — An  order  from  Parliament  to  the  College  to 
retnm  the  names  of  all  *  Papists,'  and  eject  them  from  the  College. 

**  1679,  April  4. — Notice  in  consequence  sent  to  Dr.  John  Betts  and 
Dr.  Thomas  Short. 

"  1689,  July  1. — List  returned  by  the  College  to  the  House  of  Lords 
of  Papists,  reputed  Papists^  and  criminals : — 

^Papists:  John  Betts,  M.D. ;  Sir  William  Walgrave  ;  Charles 
Conquest,  M.D. ;  Ferdinando  Mendez,  M.D. ;  Edward  Betts,  M.D. 

*'  Criminals,  or  reputed  criminals  :  Robert  Gray,  M.D.  ;  John 
EUioti^  M.D. 

'«1692,  October  26.~Dr.  Betts  (John)  to  lose  his  place  in  the 
CoUege,  if  he  did  not  take  the  oath  of  allegiance." 


FAMILIES    IN    SOMERSETSHIRE.  71 

i?as  buried  at  Han  worth  27th  July^  1636;  the  two  daugh- 
ters, Frances  and  Ann,  had  been  buried  there  before  their 
brother. 

Cliffords. — To  this  family  I  have  alluded  in  page  60, 
where  I  mentioned  their  manor  of  Cannington,  and  pre- 
viously in  page  22.  To  illustrate  the  history  of.  this  ancient 
and  religious  family  I  must  reserve  a  distinct  volume. 

The  Stackers  had  a  mansion-house  near  Chilcompton 
church,  about  a  mile  distant  from  Downside  College.  One 
of  them  had  to  compound  for  his  estate  with  the  Rump 
commissioners  about  the  year  1651.  I  suspect  F.  Augustine 
Stoker,  O.S.B.,  who  died  in  London  18th  August,  1668, 
was  his  kinsman.  And  I  think  that  it  was  one  of  this  family 
who  told  F.  William  Weston,  as  related  in  his  Latin  Auto- 
biography, that  at  the  plunder  of  Glastonbury  he  secured 
one  of  the  nails,  twelve  inches  long  (with  its  case),  which  had 
been  used  at  Christ's  crucifixion.  The  nail  itself,  the  instru- 
ment of  wonderful  cures,  he  was  compelled  to  surrender  to 
Sishop  Jewell  several  years  later;  what  became  of  it  in  the 
sequel  he  never  learned.  From  this  family,  I  suspect,  came 
the  piece  of  the  true  cross  which  F.  Peter  Wamford,  O.S.B., 
obtained  (ob.  2l8t  August,  1657),  and  which  was  kept  by 
the  dean  of  the  Bosary  in  London. — (See  Weldon's  MS. 
p.  176.)  Perhaps  the  precious  relic  of  our  Saviour's  thorn 
came  from  the  same  quarter.  Both,  I  believe,  are  now  at 
Downside. — See  also  F.  Lorymer's  Letter  in  Cath.  Miscellany 
for  1824,  p.  75. 


72  THE    MISSIONS    IX    UriLTSHIKE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  MISSIONS   IN    WILTSHIRE. 


The  state  of  religion  in  every  conntry  materially  depends 
on  the  example  and  encouragement  of  the  landed  proprietors. 
This  was  peculiarly  the  case  before  commerce  had  introduced 
the  more  equal  distribution  of  science^  wealthy  and  independ- 
ence. Formerly,  a  middle  clas9,  perhaps  the  most  important 
link  in  the  chain  of  society,  could  hardly  be  recognized  in 
England:  the  few  hereditary  rich  and  the  very  numerous 
poor  constituted  the  body  of  the  nation ;  and  in  this  state  of 
things,  after  the  Reformation  and  suppression  of  monasteries, 
if  the  lord  of  a  district  stood  forth  the  protector  of  religion, 
the  neighbourhood  adhered  to  their  ancient  faith ;  but  as  he 
and  his  family  withdrew  their  fostering  care,  the  ranks  of  the 
faithful  sensibly  diminished,  until  in  many  parts  scarcely  a 
vestige  could  be  traced  of  ancient  piety. 

The  Catholics  of  Wiltshire  too  soon  forgot  their  religion, 
and  rapidly  exchanged  their  faith  for  the  Bieformed  doctrines. 
The  leading  men  of  the  county,  the  Herberts,  and  other  cor- 
morants of  church  property,  were  too  subservient  to  the 
views  of  the  Court  to  attend  to  anything  but  their  own 
aggrandizement ;  their  study  was  not  to  encourage,  but  to 
extinguish  and  annihilate  Catholicity  in  the  county.  But 
God,  in  his  mercy,  kept  up  the  light  of  faith  in  a  few  favoured 
spots,  as  I  am  going  to  show,  and  the  prospect  is  brightening 
upon  us. 

Wardaurj  the  seat  of  the  Arundells,  was  the  focus  of 
Catholicity  in  the  county  of  Wilts.  In  its  castle,  until  dis- 
mantled by  its  owner  to  prevent  its  being  made  a  fortress  for 
the  king's  enemies,  religion  had  taken  up  her  resting-place. 
And  under  its  ruins,  commonly  called  Old  Wardour,  the 
pious  zeal  of  the  famUy  provided  an  oratory  and  a  priest  to 
minister  to  the  wants  of  the  faithful.  Years  before  the  miti- 
gation of  the  penal  laws,  Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell, 
contemplated  the  erection  of  a  splendid  church,  ninety-five 
feet  long  in  the  interior,  forty  feet  wide,  and  as  many  in 
height.  Quarenghi,  a  subject  of  Venice,  and  the  happiest 
imitator  of  Palladio,  had  been  employed  to  furnish  the  design. 


THE    MISSIONS    IN    WILTSHIRE.  73 

as  I  find  by  a  letter  of  F.  John  Thorpe^  dated  9th  March, 
1774.  This  admirable  place  of  divine  worship  was  blessed 
by  Bishop  Walmesley  81st  October,  1776 ;  and  on  the  next 
day,  the  feast  of  All  Saints,  was  opened  with  a  pomp  unpire- 
cedented  since  the  restoration  of  Catholic  faith  in  the  reign 
of  Queen  Mary  of  England.  The  congregation  of  Wardour 
was  long  considered  to  be  the  lai^est  out  of  London,  and  I 
believe  has  furnished  more  Catholic  servants  than  any  other. 
For  the  accommodation  of  the  family  and  visitors,  the  side 
galleries  of  the  sanctuary  were  designed  by  Sir  J.  Soane. 
But  no  correct  idea  of  the  beauty  of  the  whole  structure 
and  its  appendages  can  be  conceived,  without  the  fullest 
inspection. 

A  large  school  for  the  congregation  has  been  provided  by  the 
family.  The  late  zealous  pastor,  the  Rev.  James  Laurenson, 
by  his  active  industry  succeeded  in  forming  the  spacious  and 
convenient  cemetery,  which  was  opened  for  the  reception  of 
an  infant  (Elias  Peter  Burton)  on  1st  January,  1836,  with 
imposing  solemnity,  and  to  the  unfeigned  satisfaction  and 
joy  of  all  friends  of  religion. 

Bonham, — In  p.  60  I  have  cursorily  noticed  this  ancient 
mission,  founded  by  the  illustrious  house  of  Stourton. 

Odstock. — For  more  than  two  centuries  this  was  the  pro* 
perty  of  the  Webb  family,  who  maintained  a  priest.  It  was 
sold  by  Sir  John  Webb  to  the  second  Lord  Radnor.  The 
faithful,  about  fifty  in  number,  were  dispersed  in  conse- 
quence, or  merged  into  the  Salisbury  mission. 

Salisbury. — Within  a  century  back,  Thomas,  brother  of 
Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell,  settled  himself  at  Salisbury 
and  kept  a  domestic  chaplain.  He  died  in  1781.  In  the 
sequel  an  emigrant  French  priest,  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Begin, 
established  himself  there,  and  made  himself  much  respected 
by  all  classes.  At  the  end  of  more  than  thirty  years'  service, 
he  died  in  that  city,  on  16th  March,  1826.  The  chapel, 
however,  was  indifferent,  when  the  energetic  zeal  of  Mr. 
Lambert,  a  respectable  and  talented  member  of  the  congre- 
gation, who  had  spent  his  early  life  at  Wardour,  was  enkindled 
to  raise  an  edifice  worthy  of  religion.  In  a  convenient  site, 
he  procured  Bishop  UUathome  to  lay  the  foundation-stone 
of  the  present  church  of  St.  Osmund,  on  8th  April,  1847,  and 
it  was  consecrated  with  imposing  solemnity  on  6th  Sep- 
tember, 1848,  by  the  same  prelate,  recently  promoted  to  the 
see  of  Birmingham,  on  his  way  to  consecrate,  at  Clifton,  his 
grand  vicar.  Dr.  Hendren,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  see 
of  Uranopolis  and  Y.A.  of  the  Western  District.  This  was 
performed  four  days  later. 


74  THE    MISSIONS    IN    WILTSHIRE. 

It  is  cheering  to  learn  that  Chippenham^  is  served  from 
Bath^  Swindon  from  Fairford^  and  WiUmry  Park  from  Salis- 
bury.    May  they  soon  be  improved  into  regular  missions  ! 

I  am  not  aware  that  Wilts  was  stained  with  Catholic  blood 
on  the  scaffold.  In  an  ancient  MS.  I  found  that  a  '^  Mr. 
Green  and  Thomas  Lynch  were  imprisoned  for  the  Catholic 
faith^  and  died  in  Sarum  jail  about  the  year  1585.^' 

I  have  seen  an  original  document^  entitled  ''  The  Create 
Rolle  of  Thexcheq'  for  y*  year  of  5  Lord  MDLVII/'  that 
the  tenants  and  occupiers  of  the  lands  and  estate  of  Thomas 
Oawen,  of  Norrington^  county  Wilts^  had  to  appear  before 
the  Receiver-General.  The  roll  sets  forth  that  Thomas 
Gawen^  Esq.^  was  seized^  for  the  term  of  his  life^  of  the  manor 
and  farm  of  Norrington  and  Trowe^  in  Wilts,  of  the  yearly 
value  of  400/.;  as  also  of  the  messuage  and  farm  called 
Hurdcott  House,  in  the  said  county,  of  the  yearly  value  of 
160/.  That  he  had  been  sequestered  for  Popish  recusancy  in 
two-thirds  of  the  said  rents ;  viz.,  in  the  sum  of  373/.  6«.  8rf. 
from  the  31st  day  of  July,  1647,  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  on  1st  June,  1656. 

My  late  friend  Charles  Bowles,  of  Shaftesbury,  Esq.,  in 
his  excellent  description  of  the  Hundred  of  Chalk  for  Sir 
Richard  Hoare's  "  History  of  Modem  Wiltshire,"  informs  us, 
p.  30,  that  Thomas  Gkiwen,  the  father,  by  an  inquisition  taken 
in  the  forty-third  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth  (1601),  pursuant 
to  the  statute  of  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  her  reign,  was 
fined  in  a  sum  not  less  than  1,380/.,  for  having  absented 
himself  from  going  to  his  own  parish  church  for  sixty-six 
months,  at  the  rate  of  twenty-eight  days  in  the  month,  end- 
ing the  16th  of  October,  1591 ;  and  was  further  fined  in  the 
sum  of  120/.  imder  the  same  Act,  for  not  then  having  made 
his  submission  and  become  conformable,  according  to  the 
said  Act.  Nor  was  this  all,  for  it  was  by  the  same  Inquisi- 
tion found  that  he  was  a  Popish  recusant,  and  two  parts  out 
of  three  of  the  clear  annual  value  of  all  his  estates  were 
seized  for  the  Queen's  use ! 

I  think  that  the  confessor,  who  died  1st  June,  1656,  had 
removed  to  an  estate  he  had  at  Horsington,  coimty  Somerset, 
on  which  also  the  fangs  of  English  Law  had  fastened  with 
vampire  ferocity.  His  daughter  Frances  (sister?),  first 
abbess  of  the  English  Benedictines  at  Cambray,  had  died 
7th  May,  1640. 

*  John  Hungerford  Pollen,  of  Rodboume,  Esq.^  erected  a  chapel 
here»  opened  22nd  August,  1855.  It  is  dedicated  to  our  Lady.  The 
founder  intends  to  appropriate  it  for  a  Catholic  school,  when  he  builds 
a  suitable  edifice  for  solemn  worship. 


CATHOLIC    FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRE.  75 


CHAPTER  X. 

AN   ACCOUNT   OV   THE  CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN   WILT8UIBE. 

The  first  in  property  and  influence  was  certainly  the 
Arundells,  the  Lords  of  Wardour — where  John  Lord  Lovell 
was  empowered  by  King  Richard  II.  to  erect  a  castle  in  1392. 
— (See  Calend.  Rot.  Patent.)  Bat  the  first  of  the  family  who 
settled  at  Wardour  was  Sir  Thomas  Arundell,  the  younger 
son  of  Sir  John  Arundell^  of  Lanheme^  knight^^  by  his  wife 
Eleanor  Gr^.  His  grandfather.  Sir  Thomas  Arundell,  Knt., 
who  made  his  will  3rd  October,  1485,  had  married  Catherine, 
fourth  daughter  of  John  Lord  Dynham,  who  eventually 
became  a  great  co-heiress. 

Prom  Hooker's  MS.,  belonging  to  the  Corporation  of 
Exeter,  I  learn  that  this  youn^^  brother,  Sir  Thomas  Arundell, 
was  one  of  the  royal  commissioners  for  the  suppression  of 
religious  houses  in  the  west  of  England.  He  had  been 
steward  to  the  magnificent  Abbey  of  Shaftesbury,  founded 
by  the  immortal  Alfred ;  and  the  Originalia  prove  how  boun- 
tifully Henry  VIII.  rewarded  him  with  a  share  of  its  vast 
possessions.f  In  command  now  of  an  ample  fortune,  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  Wardour  of  Sir  Fulke  Greville.  But  he 
enjoyed  this  property  a  very  short  time.  On  16th  October, 
1551,  he  was  arrested  as  an  accomplice  in  the  conspiracy  of 
Edward  Seymour,  Duke  of  Somerset;  on  very  insufficient 

*  This  Sir  John  Arundell  died  in  London  8th  February,  86th  of 
Henry  VIII.,  1545,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Mary's  Woolnoth.  See 
Weever's  Fun.  Mon.  p.  411.  His  elder  son  and  executor,  John,  died 
24th  March,  1558.  N.B.  The  reader  must  be  aware  that  Domesday 
Survey  shows  that  Rog:er  de  Arundell  was  granted  large  estates  in 
Dorset  and  Somerset ;  and  that  by  the  marriage  of  Alice  de  Connerton, 
an  heiress  to  Sir  Ueinfrid  Arun<{ell,  Knight,  about  1250,  the  Cornish 
property  accrued  to  the  family. 

t  Cardinal  Pole,  on  24th  December,  1554,  had  published  the  Dis- 
pensation of  Pope  Julius  III.,  by  which  neither  possessors  of  moveable 
or  immoveable  goods  of  the  church  should  ever  be  liable  to  ecclesiastical 
censures  for  detaining  or  not  restoring  them.  By  this  decree  all  power 
of  pronouncing  a  different  judgment  is  taken  awav  for  ever.  And  lei 
it  be  said  to  the  eternal  honour  of  the  Englbh  Catholic  clergy,  regular 
and  secular,  that  thev  volunteered  this  perpetual  sacrifice  to  peace  and 
social  happiness,  and  supplicated  the  cardinal  to  proclaim  this  measure 
at  once  so  tranquillizing,  conciliatory,  and  beneficial. 


76  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

eyidence  he  was  condemned  to  death  by  decapitation,  on 
Tower  Hill,  26th  February,  1552;  and  his  estates  were  for- 
feited to  the  Crown.  His  widow,  Margaret,  daughter  and 
6o-heir  of  Edward,  the  third  son  of  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
survived  him  nineteen  years;  her  remains  were  deposited 
in  Tisbury  church,  which  became  the  mausoleum  of  the 
Arundell  family. 

At  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary,  she  graciously  restored 
to  Sir  Matthew,  the  elder  son  of  the  late  Sir  Thomas  Arundell, 
the  greater  part  of  the  forfeited  property ;  and  he  repurchased 
of  William,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  ''  a  man  of  a  daring  nature, 
boisterously  bold,  and  who  had  mightily  raised  himself  by 
the  fall  of  abbies'*  (Heylyn,  p.  112,  Hist,  of  Edward  VI.), 
the  lordship  and  castle  of  Wardour,  granted  to  him  by  King 
Edward  YI.,  the  earl  accepting  the  manor  of  Fovant  in  ex- 
change. On  recovering  the  castle.  Sir  Matthew  placed  on 
its  east  front  the  following  lines : — 

**  Gentis  Arundellies  Thomas,  Lanhemiee  Proles 
Junior,  hoc  meruit  prima  sedere  loco. 
Ut  sedii,  cecidit ;  sine  crimine  plectitur  llle 
Insons :  Insontem  fata  secuta  probant. 
Nam,  quee  Patris  erant,  Matthsns  filius  emit, 
Empta  anxit,  studio  Principis  aucta  manent, 
Comprecor,  aucta  diu  maneaut,  augenda  peraevum. 
Hcec  dedit,  eripuit,  restituitque  Deus." 

I  found  the  following  translation  in  the  handwriting  of 
Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell : — 

**  Here  branch  of  Arundell's  Lanheruian  Race 
Thomas  first  sat :  and  he  desei-ved  the  place. 
He  sat  and  fell :  Merit  the  fatal  crime. 
And  Heav*n,  to  mark  him  faultless,  bless'd  his. line. 
Matthew  his  offspring,  as  the  father  great 
And  happier  in  his  prince,  r^ain'd  the  seat 
Confirm'd,  enlarged,  long  may  its  fortune  stand  ; 
His  care  who  gave,  resumed,  restored  the  land.'* 

The  reader  will  think  a  much  better  version  might  be  given. 

The  other  brother  of  Sir  Matthew  was  Charles,  who  quitted 
England  in  the  summer  of  1583,  and  died  9th  December, 
1587.  F.  Robert  Persons,  who  knew  him  well,  speaks  thus 
of  this  worthy  character : —  . 

**  Mr.  Charles  Arondel,  brother  to  Sir  Matthew  Arondel,  after  many 
years  continued  in  the  court  of  England  ;  after  he  saw  things  grow  to 
that  extremity  as  no  Catholick  man  might  be  sufiered  to  live  with  his 
conscience,  he  went  into  voluntary  banuhment :  and  afterwards,  for  his 
devotion,  he  went  to  visit  the  holy  places  of  Rome,  and  from  thence  he 
passed  to  see  the  king  of  Spaine  (Philip  11.),  and  do  his  duty  unto 
hun :  for  that  he  WMois  godfather  at  the  time  of  his  being  in  England, 


FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRE.  11 

and  gare  him  the  name  of  hu  father  Charles^  the  emperor;  and  now 
received  him  with  great  love  and  favour,  and  made  him  Mght^  and 
besides  other  ffifts,  assigned  him  also  four  score  French  crowns  everv 
month  towards  his  maintenance.  But  Sir  Charles  returning  afterwanu 
to  Paris  lived  very  little  while,  but  gave  up  his  ghost  most  godly  to  his 
Creator.** 

Sir  Matthew  Arundell  died  in  1598,  leaving,  by  Ids  wife 
Margaret  (Willoughby),  an  only  son,  Thomas,  who  may  be 
justly  ranked  amongst  the  heroes  of  his  time. 

This  Thomas,  known  by  the  title  of  the  Valiant,  had  been 
committed  to  prison  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  the  summer  of 
1580,  for  his  zeal  in  the  Catholic  cause :  **  He  had  been 
amongst  the  first,'^  writes  F.  Persons,  ''that  refused  to  go 
to  the  Protestant  church.''  On  regaining  his  liberty  he 
obtained  permission  to  travel  abroad,  and  entering  the  Aus- 
trian service  under  the  Archduke  Matthias,  brother  to  the 
Emperor  Rhodolphus  II.,  had  immortalized  himself*  bj 
eminent  deeds  of  bravery  against  the  Ottomans.  Amongst 
other  acts  of  daring,  at  the  siege  of  Oran,  or  Strigonium,  he 
was  the  first  to  enter  the  breach,  on  7th  September,  1595,* 
to  scale  the  walls  of  the  citadel,  to  pull  down,  with  his  own 
hand,  the  Turkish  crescent,  and  plant  the  Imperial  eagle 
in  its  place.  For  such  military  prowess,  the  emperor  created 
him  and  his  posterity  counts  of  the  Roman  empire,  on  14th 
December,  1595 ;  a  translation  of  the  letters  patent  I  made 
for  the  "Catholic  Spectator"  of  November,  1826. 

**  RoDOLPH  TUB  Skconb,  by  the  favour  of  the  Divine  clemency  always 
august,  elected  emperor  of  the  Roman  Empire  and  Germany,  king  of 
Hungary,  Bohemia,  Dalmatia,  Croatia*  Sclavonia,  &c.,  archduke  of 
Austria,  duke  of  Burgundy,  Brabant,  Etiria,  Carinthia,  Carniola,  &C.9 
marquess  of  Moravia,  &c.,  duke  of  Lucenburgh,  and  of  Higher  and 
Lower  Silesia,  Wirtemburgh,  &c.,  prince  of  Suevia,  count  of  Haps- 
burgh,  Tyrol,  Kyburg,  and  Groritia,  landgrave  of  Alsatia,  marquess  of 
Bnrgovia,  of  th*e  Sacred  Roman  Empire,  and  of  Higher  and  Lower 
Lusatia,  &c.,  lord  of  the  marouisate  of  Sclavonia,  &c.  To  our  illus- 
trious and  sincerely  beloved  Thomas  Arundell,  count  of  the  Sacred 
Roman  Empire,  our  imperial  favour  and  everything  that  is  good. 
Whereas  we,  according  to  our  innate  benign  disposition,  and  the  cle- 
mency and  example  of  the  immortal  Goa,  who  showers  down  in  a 


*  In  the  Imperial  and  in  the  Esterhazy  collection  is  a  gold  medal, 
struck  in  memory  of  the  capture  of  Strigonium.  The  Archduke 
Matthias  is  represented  on  the  obverse  in  the  hussar  dress,  and  holding 
the  baton  in  nis  right  hand.    The  circular  inscription  is  *'  mattias. 

D.  O.  ARCHID.    AUST.   BTO.  SUPR.   BXSRC.   BBL.   IN.   HUN.  INFER.  DUX.** 

In  the  exeigue  below  the  horse,  **  militbmus.  1601."    On  the  reverse 
appears  the  town,  with  the  besieging  army  before  it    Below, 

^STRIOO.  PAN.  1595 
SEP.  7." 


78  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

eepiotta  manner  the  abundance  of  his  heavenly  liberality  on  mankind, 
after  that  by  hb  Divine  Majesty  we  were  called  and  raised  up  to  this 
human  majesty  and  the  height  of  the  imperial  dignity,  have  nothing 
more  at  heart  (in  order  that  the  renown  of  our  empire  may  be  rendered 
more  conspicuous  and  illustrious)  than  that  our  munificence  may  be 
fully  extended  and  exercised  towards  all  those  whose  bravery  and 
fidelity  deserve  it ;  yet  we  think  it  highly  necessarv  that  a  diligent  and 
singular  regard  be  had  that  a  proper  distinction  be  observed  in  conferring 
rewards,  honours,  and  dignities  on  men's  deserts,  namely,  that  one 
may  be  distinguished  from  another  by  some  higher  d^;rees  of  honour  ; 
that  those  who  are  more  nobly  descended,  who  by  their  brave  and  illus- 
trious actions  and  their  regard  to  virtue,  and  hy^  strenuously  exerting 
themselves  for  the  good  of  their  country  and  their  princes,  greatly  add 
to  those  virtues  derived  from  their  ancestors,  should  be  Mvanoed  to 
higher  d^p^es  of  honour  and  dignity :  for  thus  a  due  observance  of 
justice  and  equitv  is  maintained,  and  the  minds  of  others  by  their 
illustrious  examples  are  excited  to  a  becoming  emulation  of  virtue  and 
glory.  Taking  therefore  into  consideration  your  ancient  and  illustrious 
descent^  which  (as  1  am  assured  by  a  letter  from  the  most  serene 
princess  and  lady  Elizabetli,  queen  of  England,  France,  and  Ireland, 
our  sister  and  cousin)  in  the  renowned  kingdom  of  England  is  derived 
from  the  royal  blood ;  and  those  eminent  virtues  likewise,  by  which 
you  render  the  splendor  of  your  family  more  illustriousi  both  at  home 
and  abroad  :  Whereas  yonr  first  care  was  to  furnish  your  mind  with 
the  knowledge  of  all  good  and  useful  literature ;  vou  have  travelled 
foreign  countries,  have  seen  many  different  cities  ana  their  customs,  by 
which  you  have  acauired  much  advantage  :  Whereas,  finally,  yon  have 
come  at  so  great  a  aistance  into  Hungary  at  your  own  expence  (excited 
thereto  by  a  singular  and  unusual  zeal)  to  bear  arms  under  us  in  this 
sacred  war  which  we  wage  against  the  Turk,  the  common  enemy  of  the 
Christian  name,  and  have  behaved  yourself  with  such  undaunted 
bravery,  both  in  the  open  field  and  in  besieging  cities  and  camps,  as  to 
be  held  in  general  admiration ;  and  we  have  received  more  ample  testi- 
monies in  your  favour  from  the  most  Serene  Prince  Archduke  Matthias 
our  dear  brother,  and  from  the  commanding  officers  of  our  army  this 
eminent  instance  of  your  bravery  :  amongst  others,  being  observed  tliat 
in  the  be»eging  of  the  lower  town,  near  Gran^  you  with  your  own  hand 
took  the  harnner  from  the  tower ^  and  during  the  engagement  placed  yourself 
in  the  front  of  the  a/rmy^  which  eminent  services  we  would  by  no  means 

Sass  by  without  bestowing  upon  you  and  your  legitimate  posterity  some 
istinguishing  mark  of  our  favour.    Out  of  our  motion,  therefore,  ^m 
our  certain  knowledge,  with  a  well  deliberate  mind,  and  having  taken 

g roper  counsel  thereon,  we,  by  our  full  imperial  authority  and  power, 
ave  created,  made,  and  nominated  you,  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Arundell 
(who  before  this  time  derive  from  your  ancestors  in  England  the  con- 
sanguinity of  counts),  and  all  and  eveiy  of  your  children,  heirs,  and 
legitimate  descendants  of  both  sexes  already  bom,  or  that  hereafter  shall 
be,  true  counts  and  countesses  of  the  Sacred  Roman  Empire,  and  we 
have  granted  and  ennobled  you  with  the  title,  honour,  and  dignity  of 
counts  of  the  empire,  as  by  the  tenor  of  these  presents  we  do  create, 
make,  nominate,  grant,  and  ennoble,  willing  and  firmly  and  expressly 
decreeing,  by  this  our  imperial  patent,  which  will  be  always  in  force, 
that  you,  the  aforesaid  Tnomas  Arundell,  with  all  and  every  of  your 
children  and  legitimate  posterity,  both  male  and  female,  for  ever,  do, 
have,  possess,  and  assume  for  ever  the  title,  style,  and  dignity  of  counts 
of  the  empire,  and  that  you  be  honoured,  called,  and  styled  by  that 
title  both  in  writing  and  speaking,  in  things  spiritual  and  temporal,  eccle- 


FAMILIES   IN    WILTSHIRE.  79 

siaflfical  and  profane.  And,  finally,  that  you  freely,  and  without  any 
impediment,  use,  enjo^,  obtain,  and  partake  of  all  and  every  of  the 
honouzB,  ornaments,  dignities,  grants,  liberties,  privileges,  rights,  ancient 
customs,  pre-eminences  and  prerogatives,  which  our  other  counts  of  the 
Sacred  Roman  Empire  enjoy,  use,  and  partake  of,  law  or  custom  not 
making  any  impediment,  or  requiring  anything  contrary  to  these :  and 
if  there  were  uiy  such  laws  or  customs,  particular  and  express  mention 
ought  to  be  maae  in  these  presents :  All  and  every  of  which  imnedi- 
ments.  We  do  by  our  imperial  authority  knowingly  make  void,  ana  will 
and  declare  to  be  sufficiently  void  hj  these  presents  (so  that  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  most  serene  Prmcess  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  England, 
France,  and  Ireland,  our  most  dear  sister  and  cousin,  remain  safe  and 
secure).  Let  no  one  therefore,  of  whatever  degree,  state,  order,  con- 
dition, or  dignity,  or  whatever  high  rank  or  station  he  may  be  of, 
revoke,  or,  by  any  rash  attempt,  contradict  this  our  confirmation, 
ratification,  approbation,  corroboration,  eicecution,  will,  favour,  and 
decree.  Whosoever  shall  do  this,  let  him  know  by  these  presents,  that 
he,  ipsofado^  incurs  our  very  severe  displeasure,  and  that  of  the  Sacred 
Roman  Empire,  and  that  he  shall  likewise  be  fined  in  the  penalty  of 
one  hundrM  marks  of  pure  gold,  half  of  which  we  decree  to  be  paid 
into  our  imperial  treasury,  and  the  other  to  be  paid  and  applied  for  the 
use  of  the  imured  (without  the  least  hopes  of  pardon  or  remission).  In 
testimony  of  these  letters  we  have  subscribed  our  hand,  and  fixed  our 
imperial  seal.  Given  at  our  royal  palace  at  Prague,  the  14th  day  of 
December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1695  ;  in  the  21st  year  of  our  reign 
of  the  empire,  of  Hungary  the  24th,  of  Bohemia  the  2l8t.*' 

In  tlie  interesting  preface  to  "  The  Divine  Pedagogue/* 
printed  in  London,  8vo.,  I  read,  p.  412,  "bis  very  name 
oecame  as  dreadful  to  the  Turks,  as  that  of  Talbot*  was 
formidable  to  the  French/'  The  new  count  returned  home 
in  the  following  year :  he  had  subscribed  £100  (a  consider- 
able sum  in  those  days)  towards  repelling  the  Spanish 
armada,  in  which  noble  effort  of  national  defence,  the 
English  Catholics  were  as  conspicuous  as  their  Protestant 
brethren.  But  the  queen,  with  her  characteristic  littleness 
of  soul,  objected  to  his  using  his  well-earned  title,  "  NoUem 

*  This  English  Achilles  has  been  immortalized  by  our  dramatic 
Bard  :— 

^  Valiant  Talbot  above  human  thought 
Enacted  wonders  with  his  sword  and  lance. 
Hundreds  he  sent  to  hell,  and  none  durst  stand  him  : 
Here,  there,  and  everywhere  enraged  he  flew. 
The  French  exclaim'd,  *  The  devil  was  in  arms ! ' 
All  the  whole  army  stood  agaaed  on  him. 
His  soldiers  spying  his  undaunted  spirit, 
*  A  Talbot ! '  « A  Talbot !  *  cried  out  amain  ; 
And  rush'd  into  the  bowels  of  the  battle." 

Nash  exclaims,  "How  would  it  have  joyed  brave  Talbot,  the  terror  of 
the  French,  to  thinke,  that  after  he  had'layen  200  yeare  in  his  toomb 
he  shonld  triumph  again  on  the  stage ;  and  have  his  bones  new  em- 
balmed with  the  tears  of  10,000  spectators  at  least,  who  in  the  tragedian, 
thai  represents  his  person,  imagine  they  b^old  him  fresh  bleeding." 


80  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

oves  meas  alieno  stigmate  inuri^  nolim  alieni  pastoris  sibilum 
sequi/'— (Camden's  "Annals  of  Elizabeth/'  1596.)  Her 
successor^  King  James  I.,  thought  differently^  and  graciously 
elevated  this  illustrious  subject  to  the  dignity  of  the  peerage^ 
by  the  style  and  title  of  Baron  Arundell^  of  Wardour^  on  4th 
May^  1605.  Yet  Charles  I.  commenced  his  reign  by  disarm- 
ing the  gallant  hero,  because  he  was  a  Catholic. — (See 
Rushworth's  "  Histor.  Col./'  vol.  i.  p.  194.)  This  noble  lord 
was  rewarded  with  a  death  precious  in  the  sight  of  God^  on 
7th  November,  1639,  set.  seventy-nine.  His  beautiful  por- 
trait, taken  by  Vandyke  four  years  before,  may  be  seen  at 
Wardour.  He  was  twice  married ;  first,  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  Henry,  earl  of  Southampton,  a  stanch  Boman  Catholic, — 
^'Bomanse  religion!  si  quis  alius  devotus,"  as  Camden 
describes  him  ("  Annales/'  1583) ;  and,  secondly,  to  Ann 
Phillipson,  who  died  28th  June,  1637.  To  this  Lady  Ann, 
'*  The  Draught  of  Eternity/'  by  Camus,  bishop  of  Bellay, 
as  translated  by  the  Bev.  Miles  Carr,  was  dedicated. 

Thomas,  the  eldest  son"^  of  this  first  Lord  ArundeU, 
inherited  the  title  and  estates  with  the  virtues  of  his  heroic 
father.  At  the  beginning  of  the  troubles  between  King 
Charles  I.  and  his  Parliament,  the  factious  House  of  Com- 
mons, in  November,  1641,  issued  directions  to  secure  his 
person;  but  he  escaped  apprehension;  and  when  the  royal 
standard  was  erected  at  Nottingham,  22nd  August,  1642,  his 
lordship  raised  a  regiment  of  horse,  and  bravely  maintained  the 
cause  of  his  uufortunate  sovereign.  It  is  said  in  the  inscrip- 
tion at  Wardour,  that  he  died  of  his  wounds  at  Oxford,  on 
19th  May,  1643,  aged  fifty-six ;  and  this  derives  confirmation 
from  the  brass  that  I  copied  in  the  sacristy  of  Wardour 
chapel,  formerly,  it  seems,  affixed  to  his  lordship's  coffin. 

,  Depositum 

Inclytissimi  Nobilissimiqtie 
Dni  D&i  Thomis  Arundell 
Baronis  Arundell  de  Castro 
Warderensi  in  Agro  Wilto- 
niensi  in  An^lia,  et  Comitis 

Sacrosancti  Romani 
Imperii,  qui  dum  fidele 
Obsequium  suum  Carolo 
Regi  prestitit^  Oxonii 
Morte  Bublatus  fuit,  19 
die  meusis  Mail,  A&o  Dni 
1643. 


*  The  second  son,  William,  was  a  colonel  in  the  king's  armv.  His 
portrait,  by  P.  Longsing,  may  be  seen  in  the  dining-room  at  Wardour. 
In  pulling  down  part  of  Uie  old  house  at  Bruton,  a  brass  plate, 


PAM1LIE8    IN   WTLTSHIFE.  81 

If  this  date  be  correct,  the  received  report,  that  he  was  shot 
in  the  thigh  with  a  brace  of  bullets  at  the  battle  of  Lans- 
down,  and  carried  off  to  the  city  of  Oxford,  where  he  died 
shortly  after,  must  be  erroneous ;  for  that  battle  was  fought 
on  5th  July,  1643.  I  suspect  that  his  wounds  were  received 
at  Beading,  in  April  that  year. 

The  learned  Franciscan  writer.  Dr.  Richard  Mason 
(Angelus  k  S.  Francisco,  who  died  30th  December,  1678, 
aet.  seventy-eight,  prof,  forty-eight,  sac.  forty-four),  in  his 
excellent  work,  "  The  Liturgical  Discourse,**  extols  the  noble 
lord*s  piety  and  devotion  to  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  altar. 

His  lordship  married  Blanche,  sixth  daughter  of  Edward 
Somerset,  fifth  earl  and  second  marquis  of  Worcester,  of 
whom  it  has  often  been  observed,  that  ''England  did  not 
possess  a  more  discreet  or  faithful  subject ;  and  that  if  the 
king  had  been  ruled  by  his  counsels,  he  might  have  pre- 
served both  his  life  and  his  crown.*'  This  lady,  worthy  of 
such  a  Catholic  father,  has  signalized  her  memory  by  her 
spirited  defence  of  Wardour  Castle  during  nine  days,  against 
the  overwhelming  force  under  the  command  of  Sir  Edward 
Hungerford  and  William  Strode.  The  articles  of  capitula 
tion  were  signed  on  8th  May,  1643.*  She  followed  her 
lord  to  the  grave,  28th  October,  1649,  aet.  sixty-eight.  Hei 
death  occurred  at  Winchester. 

The  third  baron,  called  Henry,  was  the  only  son  of  the 
noble  Lord  Arundell,  that  victim  of  his  loyalty.  The  authoi 
of  "  The  Liturgical  Discourse,**  above  mentioned,  informs  us, 
that  Henrietta  Maria,  the  illustrious  daughter  of  Henry  IV. 
of  France,  and  queen  of  our  sovereign,  Charles  I.,  had 
appointed  him  master  of  the  horse.    Treading  in  the  foot- 


probably  once  attached  to  a  coffin,  was  found  early  in  1701,  thus 
inscribed : — 

"  The  body  of  Mary,  Lady  St.  John,  wife  of  the  Lord  St.  John,  eldest 
son  of  the  Marquis  of  Winchester,  and  afterwards  married  to  William 
Arundell,  second  son  of  the  R*.  Hon"*  Tho'  Lord  Arundell  of  Wardour. 
Deceased  November  the  xiii.  Anno  mdcxcii.  and  in  the  xcix.  year  of 
her  age." 

N.B.  Their  sister  Ann  married  Cecil  Calvert,  2nd  Lord  Baltimore, 
but  died,  without  issue,  2drd  July,  1649,  et  34. 

*  The  best  account  of  this  first  siege  may  be  found  in  the  *'  Mercurius 
Rnsticus ;"  but  of  the  second  sieee,  in  Edmund  Ludlow's  Memoirs, 
▼ol.  i.,  from  page  59.  ^  This  Ludlow  was  appointed  by  Sir  Edward 
Hungerford  to  he  governor  of  Wardour  CasUe,  and  discovered  in  one  of 
its  walls  plate  an'd  jewels  to  the  value  of  about  £1,200.  On  his 
subsequent  surrender  of  the  castle  (which  had  been  sadly  shaken  and 
dismantled)  in  March,  1644,  he  gave  up  the  plate  to  Lord  Arundell  for 
his  civility  "  (Memoirs,  p.  75). 

o 


82  ACCOUNT   OP   CATHOLIC 

steps  of  his  honoured  parents,  he  vigorouslj  opposed  the 
parliamentary  forces.  In  March,  1644,  he  retook  his  castle 
of  Wardour,  which  he  reduced  to  a  ruin,  to  prevent  the 
rebels  from  ever  converting  it  into  a  fortress.  The  declining 
cause  of  the  king  involved  him  in  accumulated  embarrass- 
ments. The  above-mentioned  author  of  "The  Liturgical 
Discourse  "  commends  his  inflexible  fidelity  and  devotion  to 
his  king  and  country,  which  "evidently  appeared  by  your 
actions  in  the  war,  and  sufferings  after,  having  not  only  lost 
your  blood  in  several  battles,  but  yourself  demolished  that 
ancient  and  noble  seat  of  Wardour  Castle,  the  only  habita- 
tion which  the  malice  of  the  king's  enemies  had  left  you. 
And  the  war  being  ended,  having  for  several  years  lain  under 
a  total  sequestration  of  the  profits,  was  forced  to  repurchase, 
with  no  less  than  five  and  thirty  thousand  pounds,  your  own 
estate,  which,  by  the  iniquities  of  those  times,  was  adjudged 
forfeited  for  your  loyalty  to  the  crown."  F.  Weldon, 
also,  in  "The  Divine  Pedagogue,"  compares  his  lordship's 
afiSictions  to  those  of  Job,  adding,  "  The  rebels  seized  your 
children  and  virtuous  lady  (Cecily), — ^your  plentiful  stock  of 
cattle  was  driven  by  the  rabble, — your  mansion-house  taken 
and  plundered  by  the  enemy, — your  estates  exposed  to  sale 
before  your  face, — and  yourself  obliged  to  travel  into  foreign 
countries  for  a  subsistence,^*  But  in  all  these  disasters  he 
was  never  heard  to  repine  at  the  dispositions  of  Providence. 

I  have  seen  a  document  entitled,  "A  Particular  of  the 
Estate  late  of  Henry,  Lord  Arundel,  of  Warder,  sold  at 
Drury  House."  N.B.  The  purchaser  was  Humphrey  Weld, 
Esq.,  but  as  a  firiend  in  behaLf  of  his  lordship. 

Ist  April,  1653. — The  manor  of  Melbniy  Abbesse  and 
Kingsdon,  com.  Dorset  and  Somerset,  sold  to  Hum- 
phry Weld,  gent.,  the  purchaser,  full  paid    £8,732    1     8f 

27th  April,  1653. — The  manor  of  Fountmill,  co.  Dorset, 
to  H.  Weld,  first  moiety   3,690  14    7 

22nd  June,  165a--The  manor  of  Sembley,  CO.  Wilts...     3,057    9    1 
„  „        ThemanorofBridsey,  CO.  Wilts  ...        75113    6 

„  „        The  manor  of  Tollard  Royal,  in  co. 

Dorset  and  Wilte 1,692  16    6 

This  lot  sold  to  H.  Weld,  who  paid  the  first  moiety. 

Meere  Park  and  Lodge,  co.  Wilts,  sold  the  same  day  to 
Nicholas  Green,  Esq.,  who  paid  the  first  moiety  ......        275  15    3 

8th  July,  1653.— Wardour  Park,  co.  Wilts,  to  Weld, 

who  paid  first  moiety    2,028    1     3 

15th  July,  1653. — Messuages  in  Sutton  Mandeville,  co. 
Wilts,  fo  Weld,  first  moiety 319    0    H 

22nd  July,  1653.— Manor  of  South  Petherton,  co.  So- 
merset, to  Humphry  Weld,  first  moiety    ......J 1,998  15  11 


FAMILIES   IN   WILT8HIUE.  83 

2^h  July,  1663. — Manor  of  Godington,  co.  Oxen,  to 

Weld,  first  moiety    £1,065  10    0 

2nd  Sept.  1663. — Manor  of  Somerton,  co.  Oxon 804  17  11 

„         „         Manor  of  Donhead,  CO.  Wilts 3,078  12    0 

Both  paid  by  Weld,  who  paid  the  first  moiettos. 
Several  estates  of  his  returned,  but  not  proceeded  upon,  viz. : — 

Manor  of  Hasledonne,  co.  Wilts. 
Manor  of  Margarett  Marsh,  co.  Dorset. 
Part  of  Manor  of  Chiltertavg,  co.  Somerset. 
Manor  of  Broadclist,  co.  Devon. 
Manor  of  Allcomsey,  co.  Somerset. 
Manor  of  Tisbury,  co,  Wilts. 
Manor  of  Anstey,*  co.  Wilt«. 
Manor  of  Langeritshill,  co.  Dorset. 
Rectory  of  Poundestocbe,  Cornwall. 
Manor  of  Hampreston,  co.  Dorset. 
Manor  of  Milburv  Osmond,  co.  Dorset. 
Several  coppices  in  More  Critchill,  co.  Dorset. 
Manor  of  dnislebourne,  co.  Dorset. 
Rectory  of  Chisleboume,  co.  Dorset. 

At  the  restoration  of  monarchy^  the  noble  lord  recovered 
his  property  at  the  expense  of  £35^000.  Now  in  possession 
of  the  means,  he  devoted  himself  to  works  of  charity  and 
benevolence.  F.  Weldon  writes,  in  the  work  above  quoted, 
that  his  lordship  preserved  thousands  of  the  poor  from 
starving,  and  that  hundreds  of  the  Irish  nation  were  indebted 
to  him  for  their  lives.  Such  a  loyalist  and  patriot  was  entitled 
to  the  grateful  consideration  of  his  sovereign,  but  King 
Charles  II.  forgot  him  in  the  days  of  his  prosperity;  nay, 
almost  suffered  him  to  become  the  martyred  victim  of  the 
palpable  forgeries  and  perjuries  of  TVus  Oates,  '^  the  most 
infamous  of  mankind,^'  as  Hume  describes  him,  or  as  Macaulay 
regards  him,  '^  as  the  falsest,  the  most  malignant,  and  the 
most  impudent  being  that  ever  disgraced  the  human  form — 
the  founder  of  the  school  of  false  witnesses.''  On  that  wretch's 
swearing  that  he  had  seen  the  commission  to  make  him  Lorol 
Chancellor,  the  old  peer  was  hurried  to  the  Tower  in  October, 
1678,  where  he  was  joined  by  the  Catholic  peers  Earl  Powis, 
Viscount  Stafford,  and  Barons  Petre  and  Belasyse.  The  death 
of  the  king  released  him  from  imprisonment  in  the  sixth  year 
of  his  confinement,t  as  Evelyn  relates  in  his  Memoirs,  vol.  i. 

*  For  some  time  a  Catholic  school  was  kept  here. 

t  In  the  early  part  of  his  imnrisonment  he  wrote  a  few  small  poems, 
printed  in  London  in  1679.  Ist.  A  Valediction  to  the  World.  2nd. 
Persecution  no  Loss.  Srd.  On  the  text  *<God  chastiseth  those  whom 
He  loves.'*  4th.  Considerations  before  the  Crucifix.  5th.  Upon  tlie 
Pains  of  Hell. 

o  2 


8i  -    ACCOUNT   OP   CATHOLIC 

p.  543.  I  think  he  was  discharged  on  bail  12th  February, 
1684.  The  ministers  daring  that  disgraceful  period  of  our 
annals  were  too  cowardly  to  bring  him  to  a  public  trial ;  for 
few  men  possessed  more  spirit  and  penetration  of  character ; 
few  could  show  such  services  to  the  crown,  or  knew  better 
the  secrets  of  the  Cabinet.  Perhaps,  also,  they  were  con- 
scious that  he  had  prepared  a  powerful  vindication,  which  is 
still  extant.  King  James  II.  exerted  himself  to  repair  the 
abominable  injustice  of  his  deceased  brother  and  sovereign.* 
In  May,  1685,  he  procured  his  discharge  from  bail,  made 
him  a  Privy  Councillor,t  and  finally  appointed  him  Keeper  of 
the  Privy  Seal  on  10th  March,  1687.  But  he  was  doomed 
to  sit  in  the  Cabinet  with  disguised  traitors,  who  had  plotted 
the  downfall  of  their  too  credulous  king,  to  whom  they  had 
sworn  inviolable  fidelity.     He  survived  the  Revolution,  and 

*  Yet  Macaulay,  Hbt.  of  England,  vol.  ii.  p.  47,  represents  him  as 
unfriendly  to  moderate  measures;  as  an  old  man  rast  sinking  into 
**  second  childhood.'' 

t  The  amount  of  fees  on  being  sworn  of  the  Privy  Council  appears 
from  the  receipt  dated  24th  July,  1686,  to  have  been  £26. 

I  copy  the  following  important  document  from  the  original : — 

*' After  our  very  hearty  commendations  to  your  lordship,  it  having 

E leased  Almighty  God,  about  ten  of  the  clock  this  morning,  to  bless 
is  Majesty  and  his  Royal  Consort,  the  Queene,  with  the  birth  of  a 
hopeful!  son,  and  his  Majesty's  kingdoms  and  dominions  with  a  prince, 
his  Majesty  hath  commanded  us  to  signify  the  same  to  your  lordship, 
and  to  pray  and  require  you  to  cause  notice  thereof  to  be  forthwith 
given  by  Proclamation  or  otherwise,  as  is  usual  throughout  that  island, 
and  therebv  to  appoint  Sundapr,  the  first  of  Jul v  next,  being  the  day 
set  in  his  Majesty's  Proclamation  to  be  observed  in  this  kingdome,  as 
well  for  a  Solemne  Thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  this  inestimable 
blessing,  as  for  such  other  expressions  of  puhliaue  rejoyceings  suitable 
to  this  great  occasion,  as  vour  lordship  shall  judge  fit.  And  so,-not 
doubting  of  your  lordship  s  ready  complyance  herewith,  wee  bid  you 
very  heartily  ifarewell.  From  y*  Council  Chamber  in  Whitehall,  this 
10th  day  of  June,  1688. 

**  Your  lordship's  very  loving  friends, 

"  Jeffreys,  C.  Sunderland,  P. 

"  Arundell,  C.  p.  S.      Powis. 
"  Huntingdon.  Craven. 

*'  BbRKBLET.  MiDDLIbTON." 

•«  To  y*  Lord  Jermyn,  Gov'  of  Jersey. 

**  John  Nicholas." 

Endorsed, 

**  To  our  very  good  Lord  Thomas,  Lord  Jermin,  Governor  of  his. 
Majesty's  Island  of  Jersey,  or  in  his  absence  to  the  Lieutenant- 
Grovemor,  or  other  officer  commanding  in  chief." 


FAMILIES   IN   >V1LTSHIRK.  85 

closed  his  lengthened  career  on  the  28th  December,  1694,  on 
the  very  same  day  and  hour  when  Mary,  the  consort  of  the 
unnatural  King  William  III.,  breathed  her  last.  Of  this 
nobleman  we  may  say, "  he  was  a  firm  pillar  to  the  Common- 
wealth, a  faithful  patron  of  the  Catholic  Church,  a  fair 
pattern  to  the  British  Court ;  he  lived  to  the  welfare  of  his 
country,  to  the  honour  of  his  prince,  and  to  the  glory  of  his 
God.*' 

'In  the  dining-room  at  Wardour  may  be  seen  his  portrait, 
and  that  of  his  wife  Cecily,  daughter  of  Sir  Henry  Compton, 
K.B.,  and  relict  of  Sir  John  Fermor,  knight.  She  died 
2l8t  March,  1675,  set.  sixty-seven.  Their  daughter  Cecily, 
a  poor  Clare  at  Rouen  convent  (colonized  from  Gravelines, 
1644),*  survived  until  13th  June,  1717,  at.  eighty-two.  Rel.  55. 
Her  interesting  portrait  may  be  seen  at  Wardour. 

I  now  come  to  the  fourth  Lord^  Thomas  Arundell,  who 
had  been  one  of  the  suite  of  Lord  Castlemain  in  the  embassy 
to  Pope  Innocent  XI.  in  1686.  Notwithstanding  the  here- 
ditary services  which  his  family  had  rendered  to  the  Stuart 
dynasty,  this  nobleman  was  imder  the  necessity  of  soliciting 
as  a  *boon  from  Queen  Anne's  Privy  Council,  a  licence  to 
protect  his  coach  and  saddle  horses  from  being  seized  by 
English  law.  In  their  gracious  wisdom  and  condescension 
to  a  Papist,  they  granted  him  the  following  protection.  At 
the  top  of  the  original  licence  is  the  seal  of  office,  with  the 
letters  sigill.  privi.  conc.  : — 

**  Whereas  humble  suit  hath  been  made  to  this  Board,  in  behalf  of 
the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Amndell,  of  Wardour,  in  the  county 
of  Wilts,  for  licence  to  keep  six  coach-horses  and  four  Baddle-horses, 
We  do  hereby  licence  and  permit  the  said  Lord  Arundell  to  keep  the 
said  horses,  which  are  not  to  be  seized  as  horses  belonging  to  Papists, 
till  further  order,  provided  that  his  lordship  gives  security,  before  one  of 
her  Majesty's  justices  of  y*  peace  for  the  said  county,  that  the  said 
horses  shall  be  forthcoming  upon  signification  of  her  Ma*'*  pleasure  in 
that  behalf.  Whereof  all  persons  concernM  are  to  take  notice,  and 
govern  themselves  accordingly.  Dated  at  the  Council  Chamber  at 
St.  James's,  the  12th  day  of  February,  1704. 

"Pembrokb,  P.    Kbnt.     Radnor.      Poulktt. 
"R.  Fkbbebs.       Granville.        Cunnybsby." 

•*  Lord  Arundell,  of  Wardour." 

The  document  is  thus  indorsed  in  the  noble  lord's  hand- 
writing : — 

•*  My  lycence  for  keeping  horses." 


*  Their  church  was  dedicated  in  honour  of  Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph, 
on  23rd  May,  1607. 


86  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

His  lordship  married  Margaret  Spencer,  and  died  10th 
February,  1712.  His  brother  Henry,  who  had  taken  to  wife 
Mary  Scrope,  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight, 
paying  the  debt  of  nature  9th  August,  1721. 

The  fifth  Lord,  Henry,  enjoyed  the  title  but  fourteen  years, 
dying  25th  June,  1726.  He  had  taken  to  wife  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Panton,  of  St.  Martin's-in-the-Fields,  London ;  but  who 
lived  not  to  become  a  peeress ;  for  she  deceased  9th  May, 
1700.  His  brother  Thomas,  a  promising  youth,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  the  Boyne. 

The  sixth  Lord,  Henry,  married  twice — ^first,  Elizabeth 
Eleanora,  daughter  and  heir  of  Baron  Raymond  Everard,  of 
Petherd,  county  Tipperary,  who  died  in  1730."  Her  ladyship 
ceased  to  live  on  22nd  May,  1728,  set.  thirty-five.  Second, 
the  Lady  Ann  Herbert,  who  died  in  September,  1757.  Her 
tloble  husband  had  preceded  her  to  the  grave  on  29th  June, 
1746,  set.  fifty-two.  Their  third  son,  James  Everard,  married 
Ann  Wyndhara. 

Henry,  the  seventh  Lord  ArundeU,  is  entitled  to  special 
attention,  from  the  circumstance  of  his  marriage  with  Mary, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Richard  BellingArundell,of  Lanbeme, 
Esq.,  which  re-united  the  families,  after  a  separation  of  two 
centuries.  It  may  be  proper  here  to  state  to  the  reader  that 
Sir  Richard  Belling,  son  of  Sir  Hugh  Belling,  was  a  gifted 
lawyer,  and  became  a  leading  member  in  the  supreme  council 
of  the  confederated  Catholics  at  Kilkenny ;  but  was  not  the 
author  of  the  "  Yindicise  Catholicorum  Hibemiee,^'  printed 
at  Paris  in  1650,  which  treats  of  Irish  affairs  from  1641  to 
1649.  The  real  author  of  that  volume  was  the  Rev.  John 
M'Callagham.  This  Sir  Richard,  by  his  wife,  Margaret  Butler 
(who  died  in  1635^  four  years  after  her  marriage),  left  at  his 
death  at  Dublin,  in  1677,  two  sons.  Sir  Richard  and  James. 
The  latter  adopted  the  military  profession,  and  died  in  1706; 
the  former  left  Ireland,  as  I  found  by  his  own  letter,  in  1643. 
After  a  suitable  education  he  went  into  France,  where  he 
probably  rejoined  his  father,  who  returned  to  Ireland  after 
the  restoration,  and  recovered  his  estates  through  the  interest 
of  the  Duke  of  Ormonde.  Our  junior  followed  the  court, 
and  became  principal  secretary  to  Queen  Catherine,  the  eon- 
sort  of  King  Charles  II.  In  1670  he  married  Mary,  the 
younger  daughter  of  Sir  John  Arundell,  of  Lanheme ;  the 
elder  daughter,  Frances,  married  Sir  John  Giffard,  of  Borstal!, 
CO.  Lincoln,  Bart.,  and  died  in  London  without  issue  on  28th 
February,  1752.* 

•  See  Ai'i'ENDix  No.  IV. 


FAMILIES    IN   WILTSHIRE.  87 

In  the  notes  of  Henry^  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell^  I  read, 
"The  anniyersary  of  Henry  Lord  Anindell,  xny  father,  is 
12th  September,  1756*'  (he  died  in  the  thirty-eighth  year  of 
his  age) ;  "  and  of  Mary  Lady  Arundell,  my  mother,  22nd 
March,  1769/' 

Henry,  the  eighth  Lord  Arundell^  and  his  brother  Thomas, 
who  died  2l8t  July,  1781,  were  the  happy  issue  of  the  united 
houses  of  Wardour  and  Lanheme.  Henry  entered  St. 
Omer's  College,  by  the  name  of  Belling,  on  16th  August, 
1758,  and  finally  left  it,  on  1st  May,  1758.  P.  Charles 
Booth,  S.J.,  accompanied  him  in  his  continental  tour.  This 
accomplished  gentleman,  on  81  st  May,  1768,  was  united  in 
holy  wedlock  to  Mary  Christina,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Benedict  Conquest,  of  Houghton  Conquest^  co.  Bedford,  and 
of  Imham,  co.  Lincoln,  Esq.,  by  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Markham,  of  Otterton,  Notts,  Esq.*  In  1771,  his 
lordship  commenced  the  present  stately  mansion,  upon  a 
gentle  eminence,t  about  a  mile  from  the  old  castle,  which 

*  On  the  occasion  of  his  lordship's  marriage  the  following  ode  was 
addressed  to  him  by  the  Rhetoricians  of  Bruges : — 

'^  0  Diva,  Pindi  quae  regis  ardua, 
Descende,  nam  qus  te  mora  longius 
Retardet  hierentem?  &  jubenti 
Carmen  Arundblio  canoris 

**  Deprome  nervis.    Nunc  resonos  Hymen 
Tentare  cantos,  nunc  pede  libero 
Pulsare  tellurem,  &  secundo 
Festa  monet  ceiebrare  plausu. 

"  Jam  nuptiali  luce  micant  lares, 
Jam  pom  pa  Isto  ducitur  ordine, 
Conquesta  jam  victrix,  marito 
Digna  suo  nova  sponso  prodit. 

^  Tnrba  en !  procorum  csetera  patriae 
Sedes  requirunt,  ut  Jovis  armiger 
Crbtas^ue^  nomenque,  &  superbos 
Expbcuit  titulos  tionoruiu. 

**  Mirata  lenes  eloquii  sales^ 
Cultus(j[ae  pulchri  corporis  &  decus, 
Captiva  deduci  triumphat 
Nympha  nov&  decorata  palm^. 

*^  Sic  ambo  longum  Yiylte,  mutuis 
Sincera  jnncti  pectora  amoribus, 
Utroque  sic  dign&  Parente 
Prole  domum  Superi  secundent." 

t  It  was  a  large  cornfield.  I  rem^nber  to  have  heard  old  Noah 
Lever,  who  died  at  Wardour,  18th  August,  1845,  aged  eighty-five,  and 
had  always  lived  there,  relate  that  he  was  actually  driving  the  plough 
over  the  site  of  the  present  mansion,  when  he  was  ordered  to  stop,  as 
they  were  going  to  oig  trenches  in  that  direction. 


88  ACCOUNT   OF    CATHOLIC 

began  to  be  partially  inhabited^  on  6th  October^  1775;  and 
into  which  the  family  was  enabled  to  settle  in  the  coarse  of 
the  ensuing  twelvemonth.  It  is,  indeed,  a  splendid  pile,  and 
a  convenient  family  dwelling ;  and  as  for  the  chapel,  I  can 
say  from  experience,  that  I  have  visited  none  that  inspired 
such  devotional  feeling.  This  princely  nobleman  possessed 
refined  taste  and  magnificent  ideas,  as  his  collection  of 
paintings  and  rarities  abundantly  proves;  his  hospitality  like- 
wise was  unbounded.  Unfortunately,  his  expenses  far  exceeded 
his  income,  and  in  his  latter  years  he  experienced  the  humi* 
liating  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  After  a  short  illness,  he 
departed  this  life  at  Wardour,  4th  December,  1808,  set. 
sixty-eight,  and  was  buried  in  the  family-vault  of  the  noble 
chapel  which  he  dedicated  to  Gh)d.  His  honoured  widow 
retired  in  the  summer  of  1810  to  Imham,  where  she  closed 
her  saintly  life,  on  Sunday,  20th  Jtme,  1813,  «t.  seventy. 
As  the  estates  were  devised  in  fee  to  her  by  her  late  lord,  she 
settled  on  the  Arundell  family  the  Wardour  property ;  while 
to  her  surviving  daughter,  Eleanor,  Lady  Clifford,  she 
assigned  her  property  in  Lincolnshire  and  Cornwall. 

By  default  of  issue  male,  the  title  of  ninth  Lord  Arundell 
descended  to  the  late  lord's  cousin,  James  Everard  Arundell, 
of  Ashcombe,  Esq.,  who  had  married,  on  3rd  February, 
1785,  his  cousin,  Mary  Christina,  eldest  daughter  and 
coheir  of  the  above-mentioned  eighth  lord;  but  who  had 
died,  on  14th  February,  1805,  at.  forty,  leaving  a  numerous 
offspring.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Honourable  James 
Everard  Arundell,  by  his  wife  Ann,  the  only  child  of  John 
Wyndham,  of  Ashcombe,  Wilts,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Ann 
(Barber).*  In  1814  his  lordship  disposed  of  Ashcombe 
(where  he  had  kept  a  French  priest)  and  several  other 
estates,  for  the  laudable  purpose  of  discharging  the  heavy 
incumbrances  which  attached  to  the  Wardour  property. 
Perhaps,  had  he  not  contracted  a  second  marriage,  and  had 
thus  to  make  provision  for  another  family,  his  laudable  design 
would  have  been  better  accomplished.  He  died,  14th  July, 
1817,  act.  fifty-four.  His  widow  survived  till  November, 
1853,  aet.  seventy-three. 

I  now  come  to  the  tenth  lard,  James  Everard,  eldest  son 
of  the  ninth  Lord.  He  was  bom  in  London,  3rd  November, 
1785,  and  received  his  early  education  at  Stonyhurst,  which 
he  completed  under  an  able  tutor,  I'Abbe  Gossier,  as  I  well 
remember.     Whilst  captain  in  the  Buckinghamshire  Militia, 

*  This  heiress  of  Robert  Barber,  of  Ashcombe,  Esq.,  died  20th  June, 
1748,  aged  .51. 


FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRK.  89 

he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Lady  Mary  Grenville^  only 
daughter  of  George,  first  marquis  of  Buckingham,  which 
ended  in  a  marriage,  on  26th  February,  1811,  of  which  there 
was  no  issue.  They  were,  indeed,  an  example  of  conjugal  life. 
This  amiable  and  accomplished  gentleman  had  lost  his  noble 
father-in-law  full  four  years  before  the  death  of  his  own 
father,  so  that  in  coming  to  take  possession  of  the  Wardour 
property,  he  had  but  a  gloomy  prospect  before  him ;  and  it 
is  only  wonderful  that  he  made  such  improvements  in  the 
house,  grounds,  farm-houses,  and  cottages.  In  a  letter  to 
me,  preparatory  to  a  journey  to  London,  he  thus  movingly 
expressed  himself.  "  To-morrow  I  set  off  for  London  with  a 
heavy  heart.  It  has  no  longer  amusements  and  charms  for 
me ;  the  trials  I  have  undergone,  no  doubt  for  wise  purposes, 
have  subdued  my  spirits.  My  ambition  and  my  only  wish 
is,  if  it  is  the  will  of  Providence,  that  I  may  have  a  compe- 
tence to  enable  me  to  live  at  Wardour,  and  protect  the 
Catholic  religion.  God  only  knows  whether  I  am  worthy  of 
this  honour,  and  His  holy  will  be  done  in  all  things." 

A  few  years  later  he  went  abroad.  Proceeding  to  Rome, 
and  whilst  in  perfect  health,  he  was  visiting  the  church  of 
the  Gesu  there,  he  pointed  out  to  his  lady,  the  week  before 
his  death,  a  spot  in  front  of  the  chapel  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
as  that  which  he  should  prefer  to  all  others  for  his  inter- 
ment. Almighty  God  granted  him  this  desire  of  his  heart, 
and  his  widow  placed  over  his  grave  the  following  epitaph  : — 

P 
A     X      Q, 

Everardo 
Decimo  Baroni  Arundell  de  Warder 
Sac.  Rom.  Imp.  Comiti 
Fide  Pietate  Exemplo 
De  Religione  bene  merito 
Coll.  Saxo-Sylv.  in  Anglia  olim  Alumno 
Societ.  Jesu  Htudiossissimo 
Maria  Grenville  ex  March,  de  Buckingham 
Marito  optirao  eheu  superstes 
Cum  lachrymis  posuit 
Obiit  die  xxi.  Junii 

Recurrente  Festo 

Divi  Aloysii  Patroni  sibi  dilecti 

An.  Sal.  u.D.cccxxxiiii. 

Orate  pro  anima  illius. 

R.  I.  p. 

Her  ladyship  has  placed  at  the  west  end  of  the  noble  chapel 
at  Wardour,  a  beautiful  bust  of  her  lamented  lord,  by  Berto- 


90  ACCOUNT   OP   CAtriOLIC 

lini^  of  Florence^  a  pupil  of  Canoya,  with   the  following 

inscription : — 

P 
A     X     Q 

Piiiy  for  the  soul  of 

Everard,. tenth  Baron  Arundell,  of  Warder, 

Who  died  at  Rome  in  the  49th  year  of  his  age, 

On  the  Festival  of  his  Patron  St.  Aloysius, 

June  2l8t,  A.D.  1834. 

Devotedly  attached  to 

The  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Faith, 

He  used  his  utmost  influence 

To  promote  its  interests 

In  his  native  land. 

And  to  advance  the  prosperity  of 

The  Society  or  Jesus, 

To  which  he  owed,  with  his  education. 

His  deep  conviction  of 

The  Truths  of  Religion, 

And  his  love  of  Literature  and  of  the  Arts. 

All  who  knew  him 

Deplored  his  premature  loss, 

But  none  more  than  the  poor. 

To  whose  wants  he  administered, 

Whose  Bufferings  he  laboured  to  alleviate 

And  whose  cause 

He  energetically  advocated 

During  an  eventful  and  distressing  crisis. 

This  cenotaph 

Is  erected  to  the  Memory  of 

A  beloved  and  honoured  Husband 

by 

His  disconsolate  Widow. 

The  souls  of  the  just  are  in  the  hand  of  God,  and  the  torment  of 
death  shall  not  touch  them.  In  the  sight  of  the  unwise  they  seemed 
to  die ;  but  they  are  in  peace. — Wisd.  c.  iii. 

This  dowager  Lady  Arundell  survived  until  Ist  June, 
1845,  set.  fifty-eight,  when  I  trust  she  joined  her  saintly 
husband  in  a  happier  world.  She  was  buried  at  Ratcliffe 
collegiate  church,  near  Loughborough,  with  this  epitaph : — 

''  Orate  pro  animft  Mariro 
Anns,  Georgii  Marchionis 
Buckingham iensis  Filie,  Jacobi 
Everardi  Baronis  Arundell 
de  Warder  Yiduse,  quae  religiosa 
pietate,  et  prsesertim  charitate  erga 
pauperes,  conspicua  fuit    Die  1  Junii, 
A.D.  1845,  eetatis  suae  58, 
in  sancta  pace  quievit.*' 

The  death  of  this  dear  lord  made  way  to  the  title  and 
estate  for  his  only  brother,  the  Honourable  Henry  Benedict, 
bom  at   Irnham,  13th  November,  1804,  who  promises   to 


FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRE.  91 

equal  the  merits  of  bis  illnstrious  predecessors,  and  to  perpe- 
tuate their  virtues  in  his  son  and  presumptive  heir,  John 
Francis,  bom  28th  December,  1831. 

Before  I  conclude  my  notice  of  the  Arundells,  I  may  refer 
to  Ann,  daughter  of  the  first  lord,  whom  I  cursorily  mentioned 
in  p.  8.  She  was  reputed  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and 
beautiful  women  of  her  time ;  and  accepted  for  her  husband, 
Cecil  Calvert,  the  second  Lord  Baltimore.''^  This  nobleman, 
in  June,  1632,  had  granted  to  him,  by  King  Charles  I.,  the 
proprietorship  of  the  province  of  Maryland,t  and  he  was  also 
created  Lord  Glastonbury.  The  Barton,  called  Hook  Farm^ 
near  Wardour,  was  her  ladyship's  marriage-portion  from  her 
father.  But  God  thought  fit  to  dissolve  their  conjugal 
union  by  her  premature  death,  on  23rd  July,  in  the  year 
1649,  at.  thirty-four.  To  her  memory  he  erected  "  a  monu* 
ment  of  his  love  ^*  in  Tisbury  church,  and  on  the  borders  of 
her  tomb  is  written : — 

**  Ann  Arundell,  y«  most  beautifal  and  best  wife  of  Cecil  Calvert, 
baron  of  Baltimore,  proprietor  of  Maryland,  and  lord  of  Glastonbury, 
most  beloved  daughter  of  Thomas  Arundell,  first  baron  of  Wardour, 
and  count  of  the  sacred  Roman  empire." 

The  bereaved  lord,  having  no  issue  by  her,  restored  at  his 
death  Hook  Farm  to  the  family,  and  it  still  constitutes  part  of 
the  Wardour  property. 

In  Mudie's  "  English  Medals "  may  be  seen  the  descrip- 
tion of  one  of  this  couple.  On  the  obverse  is  the  bust  of  his 
lordship,  with  this  legend  (plate  34,  No.  1) : — 

^  DMS  .  OiSCILIVS  .  BARO  .  DB  .  BALTEMORB 

ABSOLV  .  DMS  .  TEBRiB  .  MARI J!  .  ET  .  AVALONIiB." 

On  the  reverse  is  his  lady, — 

*'  DNA  .  ANNA  .  ARVNDBLLA  .  PVLCHBRRIMA 
KT  .  OPTIMA  .  CONIVX  .  C^CILII  .  PR^DICTI." 

Her  ladyship^s  portrait,  by  Vandyke,  may  be  seen  in  the 
dining-room  of  Wardour. 

*  His  father,  Sir  George  Calvert,  aH  experienced  statesman,  and  M.P. 
for  the  Universitv  of  Oxford,  was  created  Lord  Baltimore,  co.  Longford, 
Ireland,  16th  Febniary,  1624.  He  was  a  convert.  Dying  in  London^ 
15th  April,  1682,  he  was  buried  in  St.  Dunstan's,  Fleet  Street 

t  Kinff  Charles  I.,  in  June,  1632,  made  him  a  grant  of  Uie  pro- 
prietorship of  Maryland,  and  he  took  possession  of  it  early  in  1634,  in 
company  of  F.  Andrew  White  and  four  other  Jesuits,  with  200  Catholic 
settlers.  Mass  was  first  celebrated  in  St.  Clement's,  now  called  Heron's 
Island,  in  the  Patuxent  river,  on  26th  March,  1634.  About  the  time 
of  the  Restoration  his  lordship  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  excellent 


92  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

Next  to  the  Ai-undells,  in  point  of  influence  in  Wilts, 
though  much  earlier  residents  in  the  county,  were  the 
Stourtons.  Perhaps  the  history  of  the  family  subsequent  to 
the  conquest,  until  the  death  of  Henry  V.,  may  be  tinged 
and  obscured  by  fancy ;  but  it  is  well  known  that  Sir  John 
Stourton,  Knight,  was  a  wise  and  religious  statesman ;  that 
he  was  appointed  by  King  Henry  VI.,  in  1428,  to  the 
government  of  Ireland  for  two  years ;  in  1446  was  made 
treasurer  of  the  household;  and  on  13th  May,  1447,  was 
elevated  to  the  peerage  by  the  style  and  title  of  Baron 
Stourton,  of  Stourton,  in  the  county  of  Wilts.  From  a 
deed  of  John  Stafford,  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  and  dated 
London,  4th  June,  1443,  this  John  Stourton  had  recently 
rebuilt  the  nave  and  chancel  of  the  Black  Canons  of  Stavor- 
dale  priory  (St.  Jameses),  near  Wincanton.  His  lordship,  by 
his  lady,  Margery,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Wadham,  Knight, 
left  at  his  death,  which  occurred  25th  November,  14S2, 
a  son,  William,  This  second  peer  increased  his  property  by 
his  union  with  Margaret,  the  elder  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Chidiock,  Knight.*  The  younger,  Catherine,  married  Sir 
John  Arundell,  of  Lanherne,  Knight.  By  this  union  he  had 
three  sons,  John,  TVilliam,  and  Edward,  who  successively 
attained  the  peerage.  This  second  baron  died  on  18th 
February,  1478,  aet.  forty-six. 

The  third  baron,  John,  married  Catherine  Berkeley ;  but 
left  no  issue  male  at  his  death,  8th  October,  1484,  aet.  forty- 
six.   His  daughter  Ann,  however,  survived  until  15th  August, 

Bon,  Charles  Calvert,  third  Lord  Baltimore,  who  lived  to  see  himself 
deprived  of  his  Maryland  property  by  King  William  HI.  This  con- 
fessor of  the  faith  was  buried  at  St.  Fancras,  London,  26th  February, 
1720.  His  only  son,  Benedict  Leonard  Calvert,  had  apostatized  on 
Srd  January,  1714-5,  to  recover  this  family  estate,  and  succeeded. 
*'Quid  prodest  homini?"  (Matt.  xxv.  26.)  This  fourth  lord  married 
Charlotte,  daughter  of  Edward,  earl  of  Lichfield,  who  long  survived 
her  husband.  The  fifth  and  last  lord,  of  disreputable  fame,  died  in  Italy 
late  in  1771  •  We  read  in  the  Gent.  Mag.  of  January,  1772,  that  his 
remains  were  brought  over  for  interment  in  the  family  vault  at  Epsom. 
They  lay  in  state  inlLiondon,24th  January ;  but  **  his  lordship  had  injured 
his  character  in  his  life  by  seduction ;  so  that  the  populace  paid  no 
regard  to  his  memory  when  dead  ;  but  they  plundered  the  room  where 
his  body  hctd  lain  in  atate^  the  moment  it  was  removed"  (p.  44).  For  his 
disgraceful  conduct,  see  Gent.  Mag.  of  1768,  pp.  42,  92^  140, 180. 

*  1  have  seen  an  original  lease  by  Sir  John  Chidiock,  dated  20tli 
April,  1427,  by  which  he  grants  to  John  Curteys  and  Agnes  liis  wife, 
and  their  son  John,  an  estate  in  Westbury,  Wilts,  for  their  several  lives, 
under  the  vearly  rent  of  ISs.  4</.  On  24th  September,  1512,  Sir  John 
Arundell,  Knt.,  leased  tlie  said  property  to  Thomas  Knight  for  a  term 
of  fifty -five  yearb  ;  but  under  the  yearly  rent  of  £4.  16*. 


FAMILIES    IN   WILTSHIRE.  03 

1533^  and  was  buried  at  Fulham  *   Weever,  in  his  "Ancient 
Funeral  Monuments/^  gives  her  epitaph^  p.  526. 

**  Hie  jacet  Anna  Sturton,  filia  Johannis 
Sturton  Domini  de  Sturton  et  Domini 
Katherine  uxoris  ejus.  Que  quidem 
Anna  obiit  in  Assumptione  beate  Marie 
Virginia  Ann.  Dom.  1533.'* 

The  fourth  baron,  William^  succeeded  his  brother  in  1478, 
and  after  holding  the  estates  and  title  for  nearly  forty-five 
years  died  on  17th  February,  1523. 

I  have  seen  the  seal  and  sign  manual  of  this  noble  lord  t 
attached  to  a  deed,  dated  from  Stourton,  20th  September, 
sixteenth  of  King  Henry  VII.  (1500),  by  which  he  assigns 
the  advowson,  nomination,  and  free  disposition  of  the  parish 
church  '^de  Houghton  in  Comitatu  Dorset,^'  to  John 
Wrotesley,  Thomas  Thomhill,  Robert  Dyrdoo,  and  that 
ominous  name,  William  Hartgylle. 

The  third  brother,  Edward,  must  have  been  an  old  man  to 
take  his  seat  as  the  fifth  Baron  Stourton  ,*  yet  he  filled  it  for 
twelve  years,  dying,  on  18th  December,  1535.  By  his  wife, 
Agnes  Fauntleroy,  he  left  a  son  and  heir,  William.  The 
monument  of  this  Lady  Agnes  may  be  seen  on  the  south 
side  of  the  chancel  of  Stourton  Candle  church.  The  sixth 
Lord,  William,  died  in  1548,  set.  forty-three.  By  his  lady, 
EUzabeth,  the  daughter  of  Edmund  Dudley,  Esq.,  and  sister  to 
John,  Duke  of  Northumberland,  he  left  a  numerous  progeny. 

Over  his  eldest  son,  Charles,  the  seventh  Lord  Stourton, 
I  could  wish  to  draw  a  veil.  He  certainly  showed  a 
Catholic  spirit  in  voting  against  the  statute  for  the  burning 
and  destroying  of  the  copies  of  the  old  Liturgy  in  1549 ; 
and  again  in  opposing  the  tyrannical  Act  of  1551,  which 
severely  punished  absence  from  the  service  of  the  amended 
Common  Prayer.  Neglecting,  however,  the  duty  of  self- 
government,  and  unmindful  of  the  text,  "  If  thou  give  thy 
soul  her  desires,  she  will  make  thee  a  joy  to  thine  enemies  " 
(Eccles.  xviii.  31),  he  brought  disgrace  upon  himself,  and 
nearly  entailed  ruin  on  his  posterity.  From  the  Fourth 
Report  of  the  Public  Records,  p.  256,  I  collect  that  his 

*  Lysons,  in  his  ^*  Environs  of  London,"  vol.  ii.  p.  361,  informs  us  that 
in  1449  John  Shirhourn  and  others  conveyed  a  house  and  garden  at 
Fnlham,  then  valued  at  Ss.  4d,  per  annum,  to  John  Lord  Stourton,  and 
that  it  was  for  several  generations  the  property  and  residence  of  his 
descendants. 

t  I  think  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Chidiock. 
Sir  James  Chudleigh  married  his  daughter  Margaret.  See  Sir  William 
Pole's  **  Devon,*'  p.  255.  The  Stourton  arms  are  on  the  font  at  Ashton. 


94  .   ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

lordship  had  long  harboured  a  rancorouB  feeling  in  his  heart 
against  William  Hartgyll^  of  Kylmington,  oo.  Somerset, 
gentleman,  and  his  son  and  heir,  John  Hartgyll ;  that  his 
lordship,  on  Monday,  11th  January,  1557,  did  proceed,  with 
his  servants  and  others  to  the  number  of  forty,  to  their 
house,  and  there  arrested  them,  under  pretence  of  their 
having  committed  a  felony ;  that  they  were  conveyed  to  his 
house  at  Bonham,  with  their  hands  tied  behind  them,  and 
kept  there  in  prison  the  whole  of  Tuesday;  when  about 
eleven  o'clock  that  night  he  had  them  removed  to  a  certain 
close  called  ''the  Worth,''  near  the  garden  oi  his  capital 
mansion  of  Stourton,  in  Wilts,  where  they  were  cruelly 
murdered  in  his  presence;  that  their  bodies  were  then 
brought  into  a  room  of  his  lordship's  mansion,  which  was 
over  the  dungeon ;  that  the  bodies  were  thrown  thence  into 
the  dungeon,  and  therein  were  deeply  buried.  The  indict- 
ment against  his  lordship  was  found  at  Salisbury,  on  19th 
February;  his  trial,  before  Henry,  earl  of  Arundel,  the 
Lord  Steward,  and  his  peers,  followed  on  26th  February ; 
when,  being  pronounced  guilty,  and  having  acknowledged 
himself  to  be  so,  judgment  was  passed  that  he  be  hanged,  but 
no  place  of  execution  was  named.  Heylyn,  in  his  History 
of  Queen  Mary,  conjectures  that  his  lordship  flattered  him* 
self  with  the  hope  that  ''his  seal  to  the  Popish  religion 
would  make  it  no  hard  matter  to  procure  the  queen's 
pardon;  but  the  murder  was  too  foul  to  be  capable  of  such 
favour.^'  (P.  74.)  On  the  6th  of  March  he  was  executed  in  the 
market-place  of  Salisbury,  and  was  buried  under  a  plain  altar- 
tomb  in  the  cathedral  of  that  city.  Heylyn  thus  concludes  : 
"  With  this  fact  the  family  might  have  expired,  if  the  queen 
(Mary),  having  satisfied  justice  by  his  execution,  had  not 
consulted  with  her  mercy  for  the  restoring  of  his  next  heir, 
both  in  blood  and  honour.^'  But  Mr.  HatseU,  a  graver 
authority,  in  volume  fourth  of  his  "Precedents,"  p.  4, 
affirms,  that,  from  the  message  of  the  Lords  entered  in  the 
Commons'  Journal  of  12th  March,  1575,  the  Bill  for  resti- 
tution in  blood  to  John,  Lord  Stourton,  had  been  signed 
by  Queen  Elizabeth. 

This  unfortunate  baron,  by  his  wife  Ann,  daughter  of 
Edward,  earl  of  Derby  (who  afterwards  became  the  wife  of 
Sir  John  Arundell,  of  Lanherne,  Knight),  left  three  sons : 
first,  John ;  second,  Edward ;  and,  third,  Charles.  The  two 
first  successively  succeeded  to  the  restored  peerage.  Also 
three  daughters :  first,  Mary,  married  to  that  illustrious 
confessor.  Sir  Francis  Tregian,  mentioned  in  page  2  and  9^ 


FAMILIES    IN   WILTSHIRE.  VO 

and  of  whom  more  in  the  Appendix ;  second^  Ann,  wife  of 
Edward  Rogers ;  and,  third,  Catherine,  married  to  Richard 
Shireburn,  of  Stonyhurst,  Esq. 

John,  the  eighth  Lord  Siourton,  married  Frances,  daughter 
of  Lord  Cobham ;  but  had  no  issue.  Camden  tells  us,  that  he 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  to  try  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots. 
Though  a  Catholic  in  mind,  yet  he  outwardly  conformed  to 
the  state  religion  (Morels  Hist.  S.  J.,  p.  171).  Still  he 
meditated  to  die  a  Catholic,  though  he  wanted  the  moral 
courage  to  live  one.  With  this  view,  he  retained  two  priests 
in  his  establisment,  one  of  whom  was  always  to  be  at  hand 
to  administer  the  helps  of  religion,  in  case  his  lordship  should 
be*  surprised  by  illness.  By  a  secret  judgment  of  Heaven, 
he  was  attacked  by  sudden  danger  on  13th  October,  1588, 
in  the  absence  of  both  chaplains,  and  when  it  was  impossible 
to  procure  another  priest.  In  this  emergency,  he  had  barely 
time  to  ackuowledge  his  guilty  dissimulation  and  presump- 
tion, with  every  appearance  of  unfeigned  repentance,  in  the 
presence  of  his  wife  and  house-steward.  The  tradition  of 
his  appearance  after  death  to  F.  Cornelius  at  the  altar  was 
in  every  one^s  mouth,  and  was  firmly  believed  by  the 
Stourton  and  Arundell  families,  when  F.  More  published  his 
History  in  1660,  **  Res  omnium  sermone  celebrata  est,  atque 
in  hunc  usque  diem  ab  utriusque  familise  et  Stourtoniorum 
et  Arunddiorum  hseredibus  certissim^  traditur.^'  It  is 
related  by  Miss  Dorothy  Arundell,  who  was  present,  and 
who  gives  a  particular  account  of  the  vision  in  her  MS.  Life 
of  F.  Cornelius.  That  father's  friend,  the  Rev.  F.  William 
Weston,  in  his  Latin  Auto-Biography,  p.  46,  states  that  the 
apparition  took  place  in  London,  in  the  house  of  Sir  John 
AnindelL  And  Bishop  Challoner,  in  his  Memoirs  of  the 
Missionary  Priests,  alludes  to  it. — (Article  Cornelius.) 

Edward,  the  ninth  Lord  Stourton,  was  younger  brother  to 
the  preceding  peer,  and  had  married  Frances  Tresham.  For 
non-attendance  in  the  House  of  Lords  on  the  5th  day  of 
November,  1605,  he  was  arbitrarily  fined  and  committed 
to  the  Tower  of  London ;  but  in  the  autumn  of  the  following 
year  he  was  removed  to  the  Fleet  Prison,  which  measure,  as 
I  find  by  a  letter  of  that  period,  was  considered  as  prepara- 
tory to  his  final  enlargement.  Periiaps  this  severity  of 
punishment  may  have  terrified  him  into  outward  conformity 
to  the  religion  established  by  law ;  for  in  the  Latin  protesta- 
tion of  the  Catholic  peers  against  the  assumption  of  ordinary 
jurisdiction,  claimed  by  Dr.  Richard  Smith,  Y.A.  in  England, 
and  Bishop  of  Chalcedon,  his  name  does  not  appear.    The 


96  ACCOUNT   OP   CATHOLIC 

names  of  the  Catholic  peers  will  be  interesting  to  the  reader, 
who  reflects  that  this  document  is  signed  at  the  commence- 
ment of  Charles  I/s  reign ;  viz. — 

John  Talbot,  earl  of  Shrewsbury. 

Henrjr  Somerset,  earl  of  Worcester. 

Thomas  Darcy,  Earl  Rivers. 

James  Touchet,  earl  of  Castlehaven,  Baron  Audley. 

William   Howard,  Lord  Naworth,  son  of  the  duke  of 

Norfolk. 
Thomas  Somerset,  Viscount  Cashell. 
Edward  Somerset,  Baron  Herbert. 
Henry  Nevill,  Baron  Abergavenny. 
Thomas  Windsor,  Baron  Bradenham. 
William  Petre,  baron  of  Writtle. 
Thomas  Brudenel,  baron  of  Stanton. 
George  Calvert,  Baron  Baltimore. 

The  above  subscribed  the  Protestation ;  the  five  following 
agreed  to  the  Protestation  without  signing  it : — 

Richard  Burke,  Earl  St.  Alban's. 
Thomas  Savage,  Viscount  Rocksavage. 
Ulysses  Burke,  Baron  Tunbridge. 
Henry  Parker,  Baron  Morley  and  Monteagle. 
Edward  Vaux,  Baron  Harrowden. 

The  two  following  admit  "praxim  fori  extemi  episcopi 
impossibilem  esse.'*  This  applies  principally  to  the  probate 
of  wills  in  his  court : — 

(  John  Paulett,  marquis  of  Winchester. 
(  Thomas  Arundell,  baron  of  Wardour. 

William  Pure,  baron  of  Whitton,  was  absent. 
Francis  Brown,  Viscount  Montague. 
Henry  Constable,  Viscount  Dunbar. 
Henry  Stafford,  Baron  Stafford,         )  -w-. 
Christopher  Roper,  Baron  Teynham,  J 

It  was  said  that  Viscount  Dunbar  favoured  the  bishop's 
pretensions. 

"Viscount  Fairfax's  son,  who  had  become  a  Catholic, 
subscribed,  with  above  300  Catholic  knights,  esquires,  and 
gentry;  but  without  the  name  of  a  stuff le  priest/'  To  this 
document  is  added : — "  It  is  not  ascertained  whether  this 
Edward,  Lord  Stourton,  be  a  Catholic  or  not ;  at  least,  it  is 
not  publicly  known.  JBut  his  eldest  son,  who  must  soon 
succeed  him  (for  he  is  nearly  eighty  years  of  age),  has 
subscribed  to  this  Protestation.^' 

The  noble  lord  died,  fiill  of  days,  at  Clerkenwell,  London, 


FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRE.  97 

on  7th  May,  1633.  WiUiam,  his  eldest  son,  sticceeded  as 
tenth  Lord  Stourton,  He  had  been  created  Knight  of  the 
Bath  in  1616.  On  9th  February,  1625-6,  he  foolishly 
fought  a  duel  in  a  chamber  with  Lord  Henry  Paulett,  fourth 
son  of  William,  fourth  marquis  of  Winchester.  In  a  letter 
written  on  the  following  day  by  Sir  Nathaniel  Bacon 
("  Cornwallis'  Correspondence,"  p.  142),  I  find  that  Lord 
Henry  was  run  through  the  body,  that  Stourton  was  hurt  in 
three  places,  and  was  then  under  arrest. 

During  the  civil  wars,  as  we  collect  from  Ludlow's  ''  Me- 
moirs," vol.  i.  p.  122,  his  lordship's  mansion  of  Stourton  was 
taken  by  Edmund  Ludlow.  His  lordship  married  Frances, 
daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Moor,  of  Odyham,  Hants,  Knight, 
she  died  5th  January,  1662,  and  was  buried  at  Dorking, 
Surrey.  Her  noble  husband  survived  her  ten  years,  dying 
25th  April,  1672,  at  a  very  advanced  age. 

William,  grandson  of  William,  the  tenth  Lord  Stourton, 
took  his  seat  in  the  Upper  House  about  a  month  before  the 
passing  of  the  Test  Act.  This  iniquitous  Bill  was  passed  on 
29th  March,  1673.  His  marriage-settlement  with  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Preston,  of  Furuess,  Baronet  (by  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  Holland,  of  Denton,  co.  Lancashire),  by  whom 
he  had  a  numerous  family,  bears  date  20th  August,  1664. 
His  lordship  died  on  8th  August,  1685.  Her  ladyship 
foUowed  him  to  the  grave  three  years  later.* 

Edward  was  the  twelfth  Baron  Stourton.  He  was  baptized 
24th  June,  1665.  By  him  were  sold  most  of  his  estates  in 
Wilts  and  Dorset.  In  1703,  Dr.  Wake,  dean  of  Exeter, 
purchased  Ower  Moigne  and  Oalton.  About  the  same  time 
Little  Marston  and  Frome  Selwood  were  disposed  of  to 
Sir  Edward  Seymour,  Baronet.  In  1704,  Stourton,  in  Wilts, 
and  Stourton  Candle,  in  Dorset,  were  conveyed  to  Sir 
Thomas  Meers,  Knight,  as  trustee  for  Henry  Hoare,  Esq., 
goldsmith  and  banker  in  London,  the  third  son  of  Sir  Richard 
Hoare,  Knight.  In  justice,  however,  to  his  lordship^s 
memory,  it  must  be  declared  that  he  had  succeeded  but 
nominally  to  the  family  property;  for  the  interest  of  the 
incumbrances  on  it  nearly  amounted  to  its  yearly  rental. 
By  his   lady,  Elizabeth,   daughter  of  Robert  Buckingham, 

*  Her  brother  Thomas,  on  the  death  of  the  elder  brother,  Sir  John 
Preston,  succeeded  to  the  estates  and  titles,  and  married  twice.  He  was 
clever,  but  eccentric.  Losing  his  only  son,  Francis,  on  18th  December, 
1672,  and  his  second  wife  Mary,  (Molyneux),on  6th  June  following,  he 
determined  on  becoming  a  Jesuit,  but  would  never  take  orders.  He 
died  a  lav-brother,  S.J.,  27th  May,  1709,  et.  sixty-six.  I  have  seen  an 
original  letter  from  his  superior,  stating,  **  Per  intervalla  non  satis  sui 
compos  est." 

H 


98  ACCOUNT   OF   CATHOLIC 

Esq.|  he  left  no  issue.  Retiring  to  France,  he  died  there  in 
September,  1720,  »t.  fifty. five. 

Thomas,  the  younger  brother  of  the  preceding  Lord,  was 
baptized  14th  June,  1667.  By  his  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  Stourton,  of  Ower  Moigne,  Esq.,  he  left  no  issue.  He 
was  buried  at  Stourton,  1st  April,  1744,  aet.  seventy-seven. 
His  widow  survived  him  five  years,  and  was  buried  near  hira, 
19th  June,  1749. 

The  fourteenth  peer  was  Charles,  nephew  to  the  two  last 
barons,  being  eldest  son  of  Charles,  their  brother,  who  had 
married,  in  November,  1699,  Catherine,  daughter  of  Richard 
Frampton,  of  Moreton  and  Biddlecombe,  Esq.  This  young 
gentleman  had  married  Catherine,*  the  relict  of  Robert, 
the  seventh  Lord  Petre  (the  baron  in  the  Rape  of  the 
Lock),  who  had  been  prematurely  carried  o£P,  21st  March, 
1713,  by  small-pox.  This  union,  which  took  place  in  1733, 
brought  an  accession  of  fortune  to  the  Stourton  family ;  but 
her  ladyship  survived  this  second  husband  also,  who  died, 
s,  p.y  11th  March,  1744,  at  East  Cheam  Manor- House, 
Surrey.  Against  the  west  wall  of  St.  Dunstan^s  church 
there,  she  raised  a  monument  to  his  memory. 

The  fifteenth  peer  was  William,  brother  to  the  preceding, 
who  had  died  without  issue.  He  was  born  17th  August, 
1704,  and  was  fortunate  in  his  alliance,  22nd  October,  1749, 
with  Winefrid,  daughter  of  the  Honourable  Philip  Howard, 
of  Buckenham,  Norfolk,  the  brother  of  Edward,  ninth 
duke  of  Norfolk.  Her  ladyship  died  15th  July,  1753,  set, 
twenty-six,t  and  was  buried  at  Stourton.  Her  noble  lord 
lived  a  retired  life  at  Witham,  Essex,  where  he  made  a  pious 
end,  3rd  October,  and  was  buried  there  on  the  9th  of  the 
same  month,  1781. 

Charles  Philip,  the  only  son  of  the  late  lord,  succeeded  to 
his  honours  and  titles.  His  marriage  with  Mary,  second 
daughter  and  co-heiress  of  Marmaduke,  Lord  Langdale, 
proved,  indeed,  a  blessing  to  him,  and  to  their  progeny.  In 
1785,  his  lordship  aliened  his  last  remaining  property  in 
Wilts,  the  manor  or  tithing  of  Bonham,  to  Henry  Hoare,  of 
Stourhead,  Esq. ;  but  the  Catholic  chapel  and  priest's  i^esi- 

*  This  only  child  of  Bartholomew — others  call  him  Thomas — ^Wal- 
mesley,  of  Dunkenhalgh,  co.  Lancashire,  Esq.,  was  a  great  heiress  on  the 
death  of  her  father  in  1701.  Her  posthumous  son,  Robert  James,  eighth 
Lord  Petre,  and  his  family  came  in  for  a  large  share  of  her  possessions. 
This  lad^,  of  most  charitable  memory,  died  3ist  January,  1785,  »t. 
eighty-eight. 

t  Her  other  sister  and  co-heiress  Ann  was  the  first  wife  of  Robert 
Edward,  the  ninth  Lord  Petre.  Slie  survived  till  15th  January,  1787, 
aet.  fortv-five. 


FAMILIES    IN   WILTSHIRE.  99 

dence  were  reserved  from  the  sale.  By  intei*dicting  himself 
from  gaming,  the  fashionable  amusement  of  the  great,  in 
his  early  life,  and  by  strict  attention  to  his  family  concerns, 
he  was  enabled  to  purchase  the  noble  estate  of  Thornville 
Royal,  or  AUerton-park,  near  Knaresborough,  co.  York,  in 
1805.  There  this  good  man  ended  his  mortal  course  on 
29th  April,  1816,  set.  sixty-four. 

Wiltiam,  the  seventeenth  Lord  Stourton,  bom  6th  June, 
1776,  and  eldest  son  of  the  above,  married,  5th  October, 
1800,  Catharine,  daughter  of  Thomas  Weld,  of  Lullworth 
Castle,  Dorset,  Esq.  They  must  ever  live  in  the  grateful 
recollection  of  their  numerous  family  for  the  hereditary 
example  of  piety,  and  of  good  management  and  attention  to 
domestic  economy.  Each  of  their  offspring  might  look  up  to 
them,  and  say  with  Tobias,  "  Filii  sumus  sanctorum,  et  vitam 
illam  expectamus,  quam  Deus  daturus  est  his,  qui  fidem 
suam  nunquam  mutant  ab  eo.^' — Cap.  xi.  18.  After  doing 
honour  to  the  peerage  for  full  thirty  years,  and  in  very 
critical  and  eventful  times,  he  closed  his  meritorious  life  at 
Allerton,  on  4th  December,  1846,  and  was  buried  on  the  12th. 

Charles,  his  eldest  son,  bom  13th  July,  1802,  is  the 
present  peer.  To  the  joy  of  both  families,  he  selected 
fSr  his  partner  Mary  Lucy  Clifford,  seventh  daughter  of 
Charles  Lord  Clifford;  this  happy  marriage  took  place 
on  1st  August,  1825,  at  her  noble  father's  house.  No.  8, 
Mansfield-street,  London.  For  a  time  they  lived  at  Holme 
Hall,  and  God  was  pleased  to  give  them  six  boys ;  but  after 
a  short  period  He,  in  His  inscrutable  wisdom,  thought  fit 
to  bereave  them  of  the  two  eldest  pledges  of  their  love. 
How  they  submitted  to  this  sacrifice,  may  be  inferred  from  a 
letter  written  by  his  grandfather  to  a  reverend  friend,  dated 
from  Allerton,  30th  March,  1838  :— 

"  We  have  been  latelv  visited  by  severe  trials — ^for  I  ought  not  to  call 
them  aJlieUon^ — ^in  the  loss  of  my  two  eldest  grandchildren,— one  a  boy 
of  eleven  and  the  other  of  ten  years  old.  The  eldest,  William,  was 
deposited  this  dav  in  our  family  vault.  Their  pure  lives  and  their  truly 
edifying  ends — William's  at  Biddlestone,  and  Henry's  at  Stonyhurst — 
showed  so  much  reliffion  and  the  benefits  of  a  most  pious  education  so 
powerfully,  that  we  have  cause  to  thank  God  for  having  removed  them 
m  their  innocence  and  virtue,  rather  than  to  lament  their  loss. 

**  Mrs.  Stourton  bears  her  trials  with  the  most  holy  Christian  forti- 
tude and  resignation." 

This  noble  lord  commenced  his  noble  mansion  of  Stourton, 
near  Ejiaresborough,  in  1851,  after  the  designs  of  George 
Martin,  of  London,  Esq. 

In  page  93  I  have  mentioned  the  name  of  Robert  Dyrdoo. 
In  the  confession  of  the  Rev.  John  Brushford,  extracted  from' 

H  2 


100  CATHOLIC    FAMILIES    IN    WILTSHIRE. 

the  Lansdowne  MSS.,  and  published  in  Mr.  Tiemey's  edition 
of  Dodd's  "  History/*  vol.  iii.  p.  IS7,  detailing  the  precarious 
and  wandering  life  of  a  missionary,  one  of  the  Dyrdoe  family 
is  mentioned  about  the  year  1594. 

"  I  was  once  at  Clerkenwell,  at  Sir  John  Arundell's ;  but  for  that  he 
was  then  in  trouble  in  the  Star-chamber  about  one  Mr.  Higgins,  a 
priest,  I  could  not  be  received  ;  but  I  was  with  him  afterwards  in  the 
gate-house.  After  this  I  lived  secretly  in  a  village  on  the  plains  of 
Salisbury,  not  far  from  Amesbury,  with  one  Mr.  Durdoe  and  his  wife, 
in  the  house  of  one  £dward  Wyse,  unto  which  house  resorted  also  one 
Mr.  John  Grove.  The  goodman  of  the  house  and  his  wife  were  Pro- 
testants, and  did  harbour  us  for  no  other  thing  but  his^ain,  not  knowing 
what  I  was,  I  think.  We  remained  in  this  place  about  six  months ; 
and  after  that,  some  suspicion  growing  of  the  place,  I  went  with  the 
said  Mr.  Durdoe  and  his  wife  into  Wales.  I  was,  I  remember,  once 
entreated  to  have  ridden  into  Cornwall ;  but  I  durst  not,  for  that  I  was 
well  known  by  the  way.*' 

In  a  letter  of  a  rev.  priest,  probably  addressed  to  the 
Rev.  T.  More,  agent  of  the  archpriest,  written  from  prison  in 
December,  1611,  and  printed  in  Mr.  Tierney's  Dodd,  vol.  v. 
Appendix  IV.,  he  relates  that  the  number  of  Catholics  was 
much  diminished,  especially  in  these  western  parts  of  the 
kingdom, — "  praesertim  in  partibus  regni  occidentalibus ; " 
that  the  remaining  handful  has  been  so  ground  down  by 
persecution,  and  impoverished  by  fines, — as  Mr.  Stourton, 
Mr.  Adon,*  and  several  others  in  Dorsetshire, — as  to  be  under 
the  necessity  of  selling  the  greater  part  of  their  patrimonial 
property.  This  has  been  the  case  with  Mr.  Keins,  Mr.  Cowel, 
Mr.  Walton,  Mr.  Bifleet,  Mr.  Mansfield,  and  others  in  Somer- 
setshire ;  and  with  Mr.  Edward  Stourton,  Mr.  Carew,  and 
Mr.  Fathers,  in  Dorsetshire.  That  charity  had,  indeed, 
grown  cold ;  for  in  Dorsetshire  alone,  where  there  had  been 
once  eight  residences  for  priests,  now  two  can  hardly  be 
found;  and  in  Somersetshire,  where  there  existed  six  or 
seven  residences  for  priests,  scarcely  one  is  left, — "  modo  vix 
unica  est  relicta."  The  whole  of  his  statement  is  entitled  to 
deep  attention. 

I  must  not  forget  to  mention  that  the  late  John  Bennet, 
of  Pyt  House,  Esq.,  was  reconciled  to  the  Church  on  15th 
December,  1834,  and  left  by  his  wife,  a  daughter  of 
Sir  Henry  Joseph  Tichborne,  an  only  son,  John  Edward, 
who  died  at  Nice,  29th  April,  1856,  set.  16. 

*  Q,y.  Acton. 


101 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  SUFFBBBRB  FOR  THB  FAITH  IN  GLOUCBSTERSHIRB. 

Before  the  Reformation^  this  county  was  richer  in  reli- 
gious foundations  than  any  of  the  other  five  shires  that  I 
have  attempted  to  elucidate.  It  could  boast  of  its  four 
mitred  abbeys;  viz.,  Cirencester,  St.  Peter's  at  Gloucester^ 
Tewkesbury,  and  Winchcombe;  it  abounded  in  priories^ 
cells,  and  hospitals.  And  perhaps  the  jealous  avarice  of  the 
harpies  of  the  court,  and  of  the  new  and  upstart  possessors 
of  the  suppressed  monasteries,  served  to  sharpen  the  sword 
of  persecution ;  certainly  malicious  cruelty  against  Catholics 
was  surpassed  in  no  other  county. 

The  first  that  was  called  to  shed  his  blood  was  the  Rev. 
John  Sands,  or  Sandys.  Ordained  priest  at  Rheims,  he 
came  on  the  English  mission  in  1584.  Labouring  diligently 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  was  apprehended,  and  was 
soon  condemned  to  the  death  of  a  traitor,  for  his  priestly 
character,  Paul  Tracye,  of  Stanwey,  then  Sheriff  of  the 
county,  assisted  at  his  barbarous  execution  in  Gloucester 
on  2nd  August,  1586.    A  contemporary  MS. : — ^ 

'^When  they  had  condemned  him,  they  could  find  none  for  any 
money  to  murther  him  :  they  could  hyre  noe  knife  or  other  instrument 
in  all  the  town  to  mangle  him.    At  last  they  found  a  most  base  com-p 

£  anion,  who  yet  was  ashamed  to  be  seen  m  that  bloudy  action  ;  for 
e  blacked  and  disfigured  his  face,  and  gott  an  old  rusty  knife  full  of 
teeth  like  a  sickle.  With  that  he  killed  him.  The  holy  martyr 
requested  the  high  sheriff  (who  was  Paule  Trasye,  of  Stanwaye)  to 
suffer  him  to  hang  until  he  dyed.  He  then  granted  the  request,  vet 
caused  him  to  be  cutt  downe  as  soon  as  he  was  cast  off  the  ladder. 
The  holy  man  was  nothing  past  himself,  but  sayd,  <  O,  Mr.  Sheriff, 
von  have  not  kept  your  promise  ; '  unto  which  Mr.  Tracye  replied  not, 
but  commanded  nis  men  to  pull  downe  the  traytor  and  the  hangman  to 
bowell  him,  and  himself  layd  first  hands  on  him.  The  hangman  did 
his  bloudy  office  ;  and  when  he  had  pulled  out  his  bowells,  the  blessed 
saint  cryed  ever  with  St.  Stephen,  *  Ltord,  forgive  my  persecutors/  and 
Boe  fell  asleep  in  our  Lord." 

2.  Stephen  Rousham  came  to  the  mission  in  1582,  but 
shortly  after  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemies  of  Catholic 
faith^  and  after  enduring  eighteen  months  and  thirteen  days 

*  The  MS.  was  in  the  Archivium  of  the  English  College  at  Rome 
in  1690. 


102  THE   SUFFEBEB3    FOR  THE 

of  horrible  torment  in  the  "  Little-ease  "  dungeon  within  the 
Tower  of  London^  was  sent  into  banishment  in  1585.  His 
zeal  for  souls  brought  him  back  into  the  English  vineyard ; 
but  it  was  not  long  before  he  was  taken  in  the  house  of  a 
widow  lady  caUed  Strange^  and  safely  lodged  in  Gloucester 
jail.  F.  William  Warford,  who  wrote  in  1597  his  relation  of 
the  martyrs  whom  he  had  known  since  1578^  gives  the 
following  report  of  this  missionary  priest : — 

"  I  knew  him  at  Oxford,  about  the  year  I5789  when  he  was  minister 
of  St.  Mary's  parish.  Shortly  after  he  proceeded  to  Rheims ;  and, 
as  he  appeared  to  be  rather  of  a  timid  character,  on  seeing  himself 
safely  landed  on  the  shore  of  France,  he  returned  thanks  to  God  on 
his  bended  knees  for  his  merciful  escape,  and  offered  himself  unre- 
servedly to  His  Divine  Majesty.  On  his  return  to  England  he  was 
arrested,  for  he  was  remarkable  for  his  neck  being  rather  awry,  and 
one  shoulder  bein^  higher  than  the  other.  The  following  wonderful 
event  is  related  of  him  :  Whilst  celebrating  Mass  in  St.  Stephen's  church 
at  Rheims,  it  happened,  that  when  the  chalice  was  uncovered  at  the  con- 
secration, and  he  was  in  the  act  of  kneeling  down  to  adore  the  Sacred 
Blood,  a  large  spider  from  the  roof  dropt  into  it  At  first  he  was  per- 
plexed what  to  do  ;  but  raising  his  heart  to  Grod  in  prayer,  and  com- 
mending himself  to  Christ's  mercy,  he  boldly  swallowed  the  whole 
without  suffering  any  inconvenience.  He  had  a  handsome  and  manly 
face,  his  voice  was  clear  and  pleasing,  his  beard  was  of  a  chestnut 
colour,  and  he  was  truly  a  man  of  God." 

In  another  MS.  of  divers  persecutions  in  the  year  1588, 
written,  by  a  nameless  author,  about  the  end  of  1594,  and 
formerly  kept  in  the  English  College  at  Rome,  is  the  following 
interesting  narrative,  which  escaped  the  research  of  Bishop 
Challoner  :— 

^  After  the  judge  had  condemned  this  priest  and  friend  of  God 
Stephen  Rowsam,  he  was  returned  to  his  prison ;  but  by  the  way  a 
graceless  company  of  apprentices  and  youths  of  Gloucester  were  gotten 
to  one  of  the  dnnghills,  nrom  which  they  pelted  the  holy  confessor  most 
spytefullv,  and  aO  berayed  his  face  and  clothes.  The  morning  he  was 
martyred  he  offered  the  divine  sacrifice  of  Masse,  and  there  were  with  him 
at  it  Mr.  Thompson  "  (there  called  Groves,  Queiy  if  the  same  mentioned 
page  100?^  **  and  many  more  Catholics.  When  Masse  was  almost  ended, 
the  sheriff's  officers  called  at  the  prison  dore  to  have  the  holv  man  to 
his  martyrdome :  thev  were  told  ne  was  not  as  yet  ready,  and  intreated 
to  have  patience  a  little,  unto  which  they  yielded.  After  Masse  he  said 
his  evenmg,  blessed,  kissed,  and  embraced  every  one  present.  He  went 
down  cheofuUy  to  the  hurdle,  all  his  company  much  lamenting  his  de- 
parture from  them.  Before  he  came  to  the  hurdle,  one  of  underkeepers 
sayd  thus  to  him  :  *  O,  Mr.  Rousarae,  if  1  were  in  the  like  danger  as 
yon  are,  and  might  avoyde  it  as  easily  as  you  may  by  going  to  church, 
surely  I  would  soone  yield  to  that.'^  The  good  father  answered :  *  I 
pray  thee  be  contented,  good  frend,  within  this  house.  I  shall  conquer 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  dyvell.  He  was  so  layed  on  the  hurdle 
that  one  of  his  leggs  dragled  on  the  grownde  as  he  was  drawne,  and 
being  admonished  by  a  schismatick  woman  to  draw  up  his  legg  to  him, 


FAITH    IN    GLOUCKSTEASiilRE.  103 

he  saiJ» '  No»  all  is*  too  little  for  Christ's  sake.'  He  was  hanged  until 
he  was  dead — but  soe  was  not  Mr.  Sands,  that  dyed  there  before  him — 
but  most  bloudily  and  beastly  used,  so  that  the  common  sorte  of  people 
cryed  out  upon  the  officers  :  and  some  preachers  said  that  Mr.  Rowsam 
should  not  be  so  handled.  He  reconciled  to  the  Church  some  who 
suffered  with  him.  And  because  by  occasion  I  have  mentioned  Mr. 
Thompson,  I  will  here  set  down  what  little  I  remember  of  him.  He 
was  a  gentleman  of  fair  lyving  in  Oxfordshire  (the  native  county  of  the 
martyr),  not  far  from  Burforde,  a  widower,  and  a  father  to  many  young 
children,  yet  he  lyved  Catholickly  at  his  own  house,  and  ever  kept  one 

Sriest  at  least,  besides  entertainment  he  gave  to  strangers.  In  the  ende, 
eat  of  persecution  drove  him  into  the  Forest  of  Deane,  in  the  county  of 
Glocester,  where  he  lyved  some  years  in  that  vast  wildernesse  in  a  poor 
house  he  by  red,  under  the  name  of  Mr.  Groves,  with  his  nriest  as 
before.  At  last  he  was  found  out  by  pursuivants  Robert  Aunlde  and 
others,  and  committed  to  Gloucester  Castle,  where  he  endured  many 
outrages  of  the  officers  in  that  country.  He  was  many  times  searched 
and  s|>oyled  of  all  that  he  had ;  but  yet  he  endured  and  brouj^ht  up 
his  cliildren  as  he  might ;  albeit  a  certain  lawyer  of  Oxfordshire  was 
by  favour  of  wicked  lawes  crept  into  his  estate,  and  affi^rded  him  very 
small  relief  thence.    At  last  he  died  prisoner  there  in  Gloucester.'' 

Thomas  Alfield,  a  native  of  Gloucestershire^  was  ordained 
priest  at  Bheims^  in  1581 ;  the  following  year  witnessed  him 
a  prisoner  of  the  faith.  His  condemnation  took  place  on 
5  th  July,  1585 ;  and  the  next  day  from  Tyburn  I  trust  he 
was  translated  into  heaven. 

TTwmas  Holfordj  alias  Acton,  alias  Bird,  a  native  of 
Hereford  was  executed  at  Clerkenwell.  The  Sook  of  Col- 
lectanea in  the  English  College  at  Borne,  marked  E, 
recorded,  that  "in  1587  Mr.  Ilolford  was  apprehended  in 
Gloucestershire,  and  was  arraigned,  and  condemned,  and 
executed  for  coming  into  the  realm.  The  man  that  caused 
the  priest^s  apprehension,  came  to  the  prison  after  bis  con- 
demnation, and  on  his  knees,  with  tears,  asked  his  forgiveness. 
He  contrived  to  say  Mass  even  till  the  day  of  his  execution. 
So  inhuman  was  his  butchery,  that  the  preachers  exclaimed 
in  their  sermons  against  it/' 

Of  William  Lampley,  the  layman,  good  Bishop  Challoner 
had  not  discovered  the  ensuing  details.  "  He  was  a  glover 
by  trade :  for  persuading  some  of  his  kinsmen  to  the  Catholic 
religion,  one  only  witness  appeared  against  him ;  but  who 
was  over  head  and  ears  in  debt,  and  had  basely  got  his  own 
wife  committed  to  jail  for  following  the  dictates  of  her 
conscience.  Judge  Manwood,  who  tried  Mr.  Lampley,  and 
passed  sentence,  offered  him  openly,  that  if  he  would  but 
say  that  he  would  go  to  church,  he  should  have  his  pardon. 
Nay,  the  judge,  unwilling  that  the  sentence  of  death  should 
be  carried  into  effect,  appointed  his  friends,  and  kindred,  and 
of&cei*s,  and  preachers,  to  persuade  him  to  promise  that ;  but 


104  TUB   SUPFERISRS    POB   THE 

all  in  vain.  When  he  was  ready  to  go  to  execution^  they 
caused  the  passing  bell  to  be  tolled  for  him^  thinking  that 
the  terror  thereof  would  make  him  to  acquiesce.  Again  and 
again^  at  the  place  of  execution,  they  made  him  the  same 
offer ;  but  all  in  vain.  With  fervent  constancy  he  yielded 
himself  most  willingly  to  his  tormentors,  and  therefore  they 
ended  him  as  butcherly  and  bloodily  as  ever  they  did  any/' 

He  suffered  at  Gloucester  in  the  course  of  the  year  1588. 

John  Pybush,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  ordained  at  Rheims 
in  1587,  reached  the  mission  two  years  later;  in  July,  1593, 
he  was  apprehended  at  Morton  Henmarsh,  co.  Gloucester, 
and  was  conducted  before  the  Lord  Giles  Chandos,  now  dead, 
says  my  author.  "  His  lordship  often  offered  him  the  oath 
of  the  Queen's  supremacy ;  then  sent  him  up  to  the  Privy 
Council,  when  the  Lord  Treasurer,  understanding  him  to  be 
a  seminary  priest,  bade  him  show  his  crown.  The  holy 
confessor  bowed  down  his  head,  and  told  him,  he  had  none, 
and  that  his  lordship  could  easily  guess  at  the  reason.  '  Oh,' 
said  my  lord,  *  you  think  yourselves  wiser  than  all  the 
world.  Will  you  stand  to  the  law?'  'I  must  whether  I 
will  or  no,'  said  the  priest.  'Then  have  him,'  quoth  my 
Lord  Treasurer  to  Topcliffe,  the  noted  persecutor,  showing 
all  this  while  great  anger.  Topcliffe  put  him  close  prisoner 
in  the  Gatehouse  at  Westminster,  and  never  returned  to 
him  till  the  year's  end ;  and  then  he  examined  him,  what 
preparation  of  wars  he  knew  when  he  came  into  England ; 
and  so  sent  him  to  Gloucester  jail,  there  to  be  tried,  where 
he  was  taken.  The  last  summer  assize,  which  was  1594,  the 
holy  priest  was  arraigned  for  high  treason,  who,  before  he 
would  answer.  Guilty,  or  Not  guilty,  asked  the  judge,  who 
was  Mr.  Clench,  whether  the  treason  they  laid  to  his  charge 
was  anything  else  but  his  priesthood,  and  the  exercise  of 
his  priestly  office.  The  judge  answered  they  had  nought 
else  to  lay  against  him.  Then  the  holy  man  replied,  *  If  to 
be  a  priest  be  to  be  a  traitor,  then  am  I  one.  I  thank  God 
for  it.'  But  the  judge  never  gave  sentence  of  death  on 
him ;  but  returned  him  to  prison,  where  he  yet  remaineth, 
joyfully  and  resolutely  expecting  martyrdom  the  next  assize, 
which  will  be  ere  Easter,  1595,  and  daily  he  provideth  for 
that  high  honour." 

Bishop  Challoner  relates  that  he  escaped  from  Gloucester 
jail  with  some  other  prisoners,  but  was  recaptured  the  next 
day.  He  was  then  remanded  to  the  King's  Bench,  London, 
where  several  years'  confinement  entirely  ruined  his  health. 
On  17th  February,  1601,  Lord  Chief  Justice  Popham  sum- 
moned him  to  tiie  bar,  and  pronounced  sentence  of  death 


PAITH    IN    GLOXTCESTSBSHIRE.  105 

upon  him.  The  next  day  he  was  drawn  to  St.  Thomas' 
Watering,  and  there  suffered  his  cruel  butchery  with  the 
constancy  of  a  martyr. 

In  a  ''  Behttion  of  the  present  State  of  England/'  printed 
at  Borne,  in  1590,  a  4to.  in  sixteen  pages,  of  which  a  copy 
once  existed  in  the  library  of  the  professed  house  there, 
it  is  stated  that  Roger  Wakeman,  a  priest  of  Douay  Col- 
lege, and  sent  to  the  mission  in  1576,  had  died  in  Newgate 
prison,  on  the  16th  or  17th,  November,  1582,  after  two 
years'  confinement.* 

I  am  not  aware  that  any  others  connected  with  Glou* 
cestershire,  suffered  death,  or  died  in  chains,  for  their 
holy  profession.  But  every  missionary  in  those  days  of 
persecution  could  say  with  St.  Paul,  ''Quotidie  morior'* 
(1  Cor.  XV.  31).  Lewis  Barlow,  a  native  of  Gloucestershire, 
and  the  first  missionary  in  England,  for  he  came  over  from 
Douay  in  1574,  was  twice  made  a  prisoner,  and  twice  con- 
demned to  perpetual  banishment ;  but  rejoicing  to  suffer  for 
the  name  of  Jesus,  he  returned  to  the  vineyard.  God 
accepted  his  good-will;  for  he  died  in  his  bed  in  1610,  full 
of  days  and  merits. 

During  the  sanguinary  farce  and  tragedy  of  Oates's  plot,t 
Sir  George  Wakeman,  Baronet,J  who  had  been  physician  to 
the  queen  of  Charles  II.,  was  arraigned  and  tried  at  the  Old 
Bailey  for  conspiring  the  death  of  the  King,  His  innocence 
was  so  transparent,  that  even  a  jury,  influenced  by  party 
prejudice,  passion,  the  epidemic  terror  of  an  imaginary 
danger,  and  the  bigoted  invectives  of  Lord  Chief  Justice 
Scroggs,  could  not  refuse  the  verdict  of  "  Not  guilty .*'  I 
cannot  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  inserting  an  extract  of 
his  speech  before  the  Lord  Chancellor  and  Council  on  30th 
September,  1678,  and  which  he  repeated  at  his  public  trial, 
as  reported,  p.  60 : — 

**  My  lord,  I  come  of  a  loyal  family.  My  father  hath  suffered  very 
much,  to  the  value  of  £18,000  and  more,  for  the  royal  family.  My 
brother  raised  a  troop  of  horse  for  the  king,  and  served  him  from  the 
beginning  of  the  war  to  the  end.  He  was  major  to  the  marquis 
of  Worcester  at  Worcester  fight,  and  lost  his  life  by  the  wounds  he 


*  Roger  Wakeman  Priest,  sent  from  Douay  in  1576,  died  in  New- 
gate 1584 :  ''  Psedore  carceris  extinctus." — See  Dr.  Bridgewater*s  Con- 
certatio,  fol.  412. 

t  See  Appendix  No.  V, 

J  In  Guillira's  Display  of  Heraldry,  sixth  edit.,  1724,  p.  202, 1  read 
he  was  created  the  OODth  baronet  15th  February,  16C0, 0.S.  The  patent, 
though  engrossed,  was  never  sealed.  In  his  indictment  he  is  styled 
baronet. 


106  THE   SUFPEEERS   FOR   THE 

received  in  the  king's  service.  As  for  my  own  part,  I  travelled  very 
young,  and  came  over  when  Ireton  was  lord  mayor,  and  both  by  my 
religion  and  name  was  suspected  to  be  a  favourer  of  the  royal  party  ; 
and  therefore  was  imprisoned,  and  did  not  come  out  till  I  had  given 
great  security  ;  and  the  second  time  I  was  committed  was  when  I  did 
enter  a  plot — ^the  only  plot  I  was  guilty  of.  I  conspired  with  Captain 
Lucy  and  several  others  to  attempt  something  for  hte  maieat^^s  restoror- 
tion,  when  few  durst  appear  for  him.  I  was  seized  on  in  my  bed ;  there 
were  several  arms  found  in  my  apothecary's  cellar,  and  we  were  both 
committ^  to  prison,  and  we  should  both  have  suffered  death  certainly 
if  his  majesty  s  happy  restoration  had  not  prevented  it.  And  now,  my 
lord,  I  am  under  the  most  foul  and  false  accusation  that  ever  innocent 
gentleman  was,  and  I  expect  reparation.  There  was  not  a  family  in 
England  that  was  so  mucn  instrumental  in  his  majesty's  restoration  as 
our  family  and  connexions.  Colonel  Gifford  was  my  near  kinsman  ; 
so  was  Colonel  Carlos  ;  and  the  Pendrells  were  menial  servants  to  the 
family  :  and  I  hope  tk^  deserve  some  favour." 

No  doubt  the  Council  were  amazed  at  his  manly  boldness, 
for  he  spoke  as  one — 

"  Who  kept  a  court  of  honour  in  his  breast ;  '* 

but  their  conduct  on  this  occasion  reminds  one  of  Dido 
expiring  in  the  agonies  of  suicide  (JEneid,  lib.  iv.)  : — 

*'  Oculis  errantibus  alto 
Quesivit  coelo  lumen,  ingemuitque  reperta" 

What  opinion  can  we  form  of  the  moral  principle  of  our 
governors,  statesmjBU,  and  senators  during  this  epoch  of 
national  delirium,  who,  knowing  well  the  utter  falsehood  of 
the  plot,  instead  of  setting  their  faces  to  the  popular  delu* 
delusion,  ^*civium  ardor  prava  jubentium,"  actually  lent 
themselves  to  the  cruel  sport  of  worrying  the  lives  of  inno« 
cent  and  loyal  subjects.  King  Charles  II.,  from  the  very 
beginning,  "  was  confirmed  in  the  belief  of  its  being  all  a 
fiction,  never  believinff  one  tittle  of  itJ* — See  Clarke's  Life  of 
King  James  II.,  from  the  Stuart  Papers,  vol.  i.  And 
Francis  North,  Lord  Guildford,  whilst  Lord  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Common  Pleas,  '^  whilst  he  was  in  secret  drawing  up  a 
refutation  of  the  whole  romance  of  the  Popish  plot,  declared 
in  pitblic  that  the  tnUh  of  the  story  was  as  plain  as  the  sun  in 
heaven,  and  was  not  ashamed  to  browbeat  from  the  seat  of 
judgment  the  unfortunate  Roman  Catholics,  who  were 
arraigned  before  him  for  their  lives.'* — See  Macaulay's 
"  History  of  England,"  vol.  i.  p.  274.* 

*  To  inflame  the  popular  odium  against  us,  medals  were  struck  of  a 
Jesuit  murdering  Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey,  whilst  the  Pope,  in  his 
tiara  and  cross,  was  standing  by  and  applauding. — See  Mudie  s  English 
Coins  and  Medals,  &c.  A  print  was  issued,  "  The  solemn  monk  pro- 
cession  of  the   Pope,   Cardinals,  Jesuits,  ^c,  exactly  taken  as  they 


FAITH    IN    GLOUCESTEaSHIRE.  107 

"  Even  the  House  of  Commons  would  sit  on  the  Sunday, 
November  10th,  1678,  to  inquire  into  this  Popish  plot,'*  as 
Mr.  Hatsell  informs  us  in  vol.  iii.  of  "  Precedents,"  p.  59. 
This  profound  lawyer  in  the  preceding  volume,  p.  159,  gives 
it  as  his  opinion  that  "  it  can  be  no  longer  matter  of  doubt, 
that  the  witnesses,  particularly  Oates  and  Bedloe,  were  most 
notoriously  perjured,  and  that  the  stories  told  by  these  two 
men,  and  several  others  of  the  witnesses,  were  gross  and  pal- 
pable forgeries."  So  convinced  of  this  was  Mr.  Elliott,  M.P. 
that  in  his  powerful  speech  delivered  in  the  House  of  Commons 
on  the  Catholic  Petition  in  1812,  he  hesitated  not  to  affirm, 
"  K  any  man  in  these  days  was  to  venture  to  declare  himself 
a  believer  in  that  Popish  plot,  he  would  be  laughed  at  as  a 
visionary,  or  a  bigot." 

Oh,  that  all  who  are  appointed  to  rule  their  fellow-men 
would  carefuDy  study,  and  inwardly  digest,  the  sixth  chapter 
of  the  Book  of  Wisdom  ! 

marched  through  the  citpr  of  London  the  17th  of  November,  1679."  O 
miseri,  ane  tanta  insania,  cives  ! —  N.B.  The  pensioned  Oates,  **  inve- 
terattts  oierum  malorum,"  died  2drd  July,  1705. 


108  REVIEW   OF    THE    MISSIONS 


CHAPTER  XII. 

REVIEW   OF   THE  MISSIONS   IS   OLOUCBSTERSHIRB. 

1.  The  first  in  importance  is  unquestionably  Bristol. 

From  the  so-called  Reformation  until  the  accession  of 
George  11.^  in  no  commercial  city  of  the  British  empire  was 
Catholic  faith  and  practice  more  discouraged  and  depressed 
than  in  Bristol.  Monsieur  Jorevin,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Evans 
in  his  History  of  Bristol,  vol.  ii.  p.  306,  assures  us,  that 
towards  the  end  of  King  Charles  II.'s  reign,  ''  no  one  can 
hear  Mass  at  Bristol,  though  it  is  a  port  frequented  by  many 
Catholics, — Flemish,  and  French,  and  Spaniards,  and  Portu- 
guese.*' That  a  priest  did  venture  to  exercise  his  functions 
here,  after  King  James  II.  had  mounted  the  throne,  is 
evidenced  by  the  Auto-Biography  of  Sir  John  Bramston, 
recently  published  by  the  Camden  Society  (1846) : — 

^  On  Sunday  last,  April  25, 1686,  at  Bristol,  information  being  given. 
to  the  mayor  that  Mass  was  sayinse  in  a  house  in  that  citie,  he  took 
with  him  the  sheriifB  and  some  aldennen,  and  went  and  apprehended 
the  preist  and  the  conventicle,  and  committed  the  preist  and  some  of 
the  company  to  the  gaole,  and  sent  to  the  bishope,  Sir  Jonathan  Tre- 
lawney,  notice  of  it.  His  lordship  carried  the  letter  to  the  king." — 
P.  226. 

And  in  p.  229  we  read  : — 

"  The  priest  that  was  committed  by  the  mayor  of  Bristoll  was  brought 
to  the  kind's  barr  10th  May  ;  but  owing  to  the  absence  of  the  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  Sir  Edward  Herbert,  and  of  his  council,  Mr.  Brent^  he 
was  remanded  to  to  the  King's  Bench  prison.*' 

Mr.  Coppinger,  a  well-qualified  teacher,  attempted  to  open 
a  school  at  Kingsdown,  near  Clifton ;  at  first  his  prospects 
were  favourable,  but  when  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  a 
Papist,  every  hope  of  success  vanished,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  decamp.     This  occurred  about  a  century  ago. 

By  a  letter  received  from  the  Rev.  Patrick  O'Ferrall,  dated 
Bristol,  September  19th,  1854,  I  learn  that  about  1743 
a  Bristolian  firm  {Query  Champion's,  see  Evans's  History, 
vol.  ii.  p.  226,),  anxious  to  introduce  spelter  or  zinc- working 
from  Flanders,  could  not  induce  any  of  the  Flemish  workmen 
to  come  over  unless  the  free  exercises  of  their  religion  were 


IN    GLOUCESTEBSHIRE.  109 

secured  to  them ;  ^^  and  so,  in  the  combat,  Bristol  cupidity 
overcame  Bristol  stupidity,  and  the  men  were  allowed  to 
practise  their  religion  without  molestation/' 

That  the  Jesuits  were  the  first  to  create  and  serve  the 
Bristol  mission,  is  a  fact  that  I  believe  no  reasonable  man 
can  doubt.  But  the  first  name  that  I  have  met  with,  is 
F.  John  Ijallart,  who  was  there  soon  after  the  accession  of 
King  George  II. ;  but  retired  to  Boulogne,  where  he  died 
25th  September,  1743,  set.  fifty-one.  He  was  succeeded  by 
F.  John  Scudamore  (of  the  ancient  family  of  Scudamore, 
CO.  Hereford,  whose  father  resided  at  Pembridge  Castle,  as 
his  great-nephew,  Mr.  Jones,  of  Tolcame,  informed  me). 
Mr.  Scudamore  resided  at  Bristol  about  forty  years,  was 
much  beloved  by  his  little  flock  for  his  zeal  and  piety ;  and 
Mr.  Jones  aforesaid,  who  resided  with  him  for  a  time,  stated 
to  me  "  that  his  manner  of  living  was  very  plain  and  mode« 
rate.''  His  first  place  of  worship  was  the  upper  room  of  a 
house  at  Hook's  Mills,  behind  the  smaU  church,  near  the 
Orphan  Asylum  on  Ashley  Down.  He  after  a  time 
removed  the  chapel  to  St.  James's  Back,  where  a  lady, 
Mrs.  Player,  now  in  her  eighty-ninth  year,  remembers  saying 
her  catechism.  The  death  of  this  venerable  pastor  occurred 
at  Bristol  on  8th  April,  1778,  aged  eighty-two;  and  the  late 
Bev.  James  Parker,  S.J.,  who  assisted  at  his  funeral,  pointed 
out  to  me  the  spot,  opposite  the  porch  of  St.  James's  church, 
where  his  honoured  remains  were  deposited. 

F.  John  Fontaine,  who  had  arrived  in  1777,  in  attendance 
on  F.  Scudamore,  was  the  first  to  commence  a  register.  He 
quitted  after  the  riots  of  1780,  when  he  was  replaced  by 
F.  Thomas  Brewer.  In  his  time,  the  want  of  better  accom- 
modation for  public  worship  than  the  miserable  room  in 
St.  James's  Back  afibrded  was  seriously  felt;  and  it  was 
resolved  to  erect  a  new  one.  I  copy  the  following  extract 
from  an  original  letter  addressed  by  the  said  Bev.  James 
Parker,  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Dunn,  on  12th  April,  1822 : — 
''The  first  ii£300,  towards  purchasing  premises,  was  collected 
by  me,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  Thomas  Brewer,  then 
resident  missionary  of  Bristol,  in  the  streets  of  London. 
The  Rev.  Charles  Neville,  S.J.,  gave  £300  also,  for  house  and 
chapel  j  the  Rev.  James  Adams,  S.J.,  contributed  to  the 
same  JE200.  Many  collections  were  received  by  the  Rev. 
Robert  Plowden  (the  successor  of  F.  Brewer),  from  his 
relations  and  friends."  In  a  previous  letter,  the  same 
F.Parker,  on  17th  January,  1822,  calls  the  Jesuits  "the 
proprietors  of  that  mission." 

F.  Thomas  Brewer  died  on   18th  April,  1787,  and  in 


110  REVIEW   OF   THE    MISSIONS 

October^  the  same  year^  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Robert 
Plowden. 

The  premises  selected  for  the  new  Missionary  establish- 
ment were  purchased  of  Mr.  Robert  Bay  ley  and  Mr.  Trotman. 
The  con§p"egation  could  contribute  but  little^  and  even  that 
little^  collected  by  a  committee^  was  unadvisedly  placed  by 
its  members  in  the  hands  of  one  Fitz-Henry^  an  Irish  mer- 
chant^ and  was  irrecoverably  lost  by  his  bankruptcy.  Bishop 
Walmesley^  and  his  coadjutor  Bishop  Sharrock^  charmed 
with  the  active  and  disinterested  zeal  of  these  ex-Jesuits^ 
engaged^  on  16th  September^  1789,  to  admit  a  member  of 
the  Academy  at  Liege  as  an  incumbent  of  the  chapel  to  be 
erected,  provided  the  person  presented  to  them,  or  their 
successors,  should  appear  duly  qualified  to  promote  the 
good  of  religion  in  general,  and  the  welfare  of  the  congre- 
gation at  Bristol.  This  compact  was  further  subscribed 
by  their  successor.  Bishop  Collingridge,  on  20th  March, 
1812. 

F.  Robert  Plowden  had  opened  St.  Joseph's  chapel,  in 
Trenchard-street,  on  27th  June,  1790,  he  had  provided  a 
convenient  and  roomy  house  for  the  incumbent ;  nay,  had 
succeeded  in  purchasing  premises  at  the  west  end  of  the 
chapel  to  build  his  poor  schools,  at  an  expense  of  more  than 
£1,000.  It  would  be  folly  to  deny  that  he  was  a  man  of 
indefatigable  zeal  and  industry ;  very  exemplary,  most  self- 
denying  and  disinterested,  and  deserving  the  character  of 
"  father  of  the  poor."  During  a  residence  of  nearly  thirty 
years  in  Bristol,  he  conciliated  the  respect,  esteem,  and 
fevour  of  the  public ;  but  unfortunately  he  marred  his  use- 
fulness by  departing  from  that  spirit  of  submission  to 
episcopal  authority  which  is  characteristic  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus.  In  the  first  place,  he  refused  to  publish,  on  5th 
December,  1813,  Bishop  CoUingridge's  Pastond  Letter, 
under  pretence  of  his  having  discovered  in  it  some  erroneous 
doctrine.  Secondly,  he  attacked  from  the  pulpit  the  same 
bishop's  Lenten  Mandement,  dated  from  Taunton,  1st  Feb- 
ruary, 1815.  This  wrong-headed  course  was  visited  with 
the  bishop's  severest  indignation.  His  lordship  peremptorily 
demanded  his  removal  from  Bristol  insianier,  though  the 
venerable  man  was  now  in  his  seventy-sixth  year.  His  old 
friend.  Bishop  Milner,  however,  graciously  offered  him  an 
asylum  in  the  midland  district, — placed  him  first  at  Swyn- 
nerton,  and  subsequently  at  Wapenbury,  where  he  rested 
from  all  his  mortal  labours  and  trials  on  17th  June,  1823, 
aged  eighty-three. 

Stonyhurst,  since  the  emigration  from  Liege  in  1794,  had 


IN    GLOUCESTERSHIRE.  Ill 

become  the  representative  and  heir  of  the  Academy  above 
mentioned.  On  F.  Plowden's  application  for  assistance  in  the 
discharge  of  the  increasing  duties  of  the  ministry  at  Bristol^  its 
superior  supplied  two  associates  successively^ — firsts  John 
Power,  alias  Reeve,  who  arrived  in  July,  1811,  and  at  the  end 
of  sixteen  months  was  transferred  to  Lullworth.  The  second 
was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Tate,  who  had  served  the  English 
mission  for  nine  years  before,  and  was  a  much  more  efficient 
person.  He  was  appointed  to  Bristol  in  November,  1812, 
and  within  three  years  succeeded  to  the  sole  pastoral  charge, 
void  by  the  dismissal  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Plowden.  At  length 
the  bishop  assigned  him  an  able  assistant  in  the  Rev.  Henry 
Riley,  not  connected  with  Stonyhurst,  who  joined  him  on 
21st  November,  1821.  Late  in  the  same  year,  some  business 
of  a  most  delicate  and  complicated  nature  at  Falmouth, 
required  the  temporary  visit  and  presence  of  a  discreet 
clergyman ;  and  his  lordship  could  think  of  no  one  so  com- 
petent to  accomplish  it  as  Mr.  Tate.  I  know  that  most 
would  have  shirked  the  commission ;  but  he  kindly  under- 
took it,  and  he  executed  it  with  so  much  tact  and  credit, 
that  Bishop  Collingridge,  in  a  letter  which  I  saw,  dated 
Bristol,  20th  March,  1822,  awarded  to  him  ''the  just  tribute 
of  my  sincere  thanks.'^  During  Mr.  Tate's  absence  on  this 
intricate  affair,  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  recently  ordained 
(25th  November,  1821,  at  Ushaw),  arrived  at  Bristol  on 
1st  January,  1822,  on  his  route  to  supersede  L'Abbe 
Orezille,  alias  Hoche,  at  Falmouth.  He  preached  at  Bristol, 
and  the  bishop,  who  heard  him,  was  so  pleased  with  his 
delivery,  that  he  decided  on  keeping  him  at  Bristol,  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Riley,  and  detaining  Mr.  Tate  at 
Falmouth.  A  friend  (Miss  Lane)  communicated  the  plan 
to  Mr.  Tate,  who  instantly  started  homewards,  before  the 
bishop's  missive  could  be  delivered  by  the  post.  His  lord- 
ship was  disconcerted  by  this  rapid  movement, — ^he  felt 
himself  out-generalled ;  and  on  coming  to  an  explanation, 
Mr.  Tate  charged  him  with  a  clandestine  attempt  to  supplant 
him,  and  demanded  an  open  investigation.  His  lordship 
then  offered  him  any  other  place  in  the  diocese;  but 
announced,  that  he  was  so  satisfied  with  the  efficiency  of  the 
zeal  and  abilities  of  those  two  young  missionaries  for  Bristol, 
that  he  must  prohibit  Mr.  Tate  from  exercising  any  longer 
parochial  faculties  there.  It  should  be  observed,  however, 
that  Bishop  Collingridge  did  apply  to  Stonyhurst  for  a 
more  suitable  ^person  for  Bristol  than  Mr.  Tate;  and  that 
on  receiving  in  reply,  that  they  had  no  person  more  efficient 
to  replace  him,  Mr.  Williams  received  his  final  appointment. 


]12  REVIEW   OF   THE    MISSIONS 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Tate  could  realize  the  sale  of  his  furnitorej 
&C.J  he  bade  adieu  to  the  western  district  altogether. 

After  nearly  a  year  and  a  half's  valuable  service, — viz.. 
May,  1823, — Mr.  Williams  was  transferred  to  the  easier 
mission  of  Chepstow.  Bishop  Collingridge  applied  now  to 
Stony  hurst,  as  F.  Glover  informed  me  in  his  letter,  23rd 
June,  1823,  but  no  assistant  could  be  spared.  An  Irish 
priest,  the  Rev.  John  Burke,  succeeded  Williams  at  Bristol 
for  a  short  period  ;  and  in  the  spring  of  1825,  was  replaced 
by  the  Rev.  Francis  Edgeworth,  O.S.F. 

Bishop  Collingridge  died  at  Cannington  on  3rd  March, 
1829.  He  had  experienced  some  uneasiness  of  mind  for 
taking  possession  of  the  Jesuits'  premises ;  and  he  applied 
again  for  one  of  their  body  to  resume  the  pastoral  office  here. 
The  Rev.  William  Rowe,  S.J.,  was  at  once  deputed,  and 
arrived  for  the  purpose  on  7th  August,  1828;  and  on  the 
29th  of  the  same  month  and  year,  the  worthy  Mr.  Riley 
was  transferred  to  Axminster;  but  Mr.  Edgeworth  was 
continued  at  Trenchard-street  chapel. 

The  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Baines  succeeded,  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Collingridge,  to  the  charge  of  the  Western  District. 
It  was  known  that  as  early  as  1822,  whilst  incumbent  of  the 
Bath  mission,  he  had  expressed  himself  as  opposed  to  the 
right  of  the  Jesuits  to  their  premises ;  and  he  soon  came  to 
a  misunderstanding  with  F.  Rowe,  and  insisted  on  his 
removal  before  Christmas.  The  reverend  gentleman  quitted 
on  23rd  December,  1830,  and  on  the  next  day  the  Rev. 
Patrick  O'Ferrall,  O.S.P.,  was  substituted.  Unquestionably 
these  two  religious  distinguished  themselves  by  their  zeal 
and  talents;  during  the  frightful  riots  in  Bristol  in  the 
beginning  of  November,  1831,  they  had  most  arduous  duties 
to  perform;  and  Mr.  Edgeworth  so  signalized  himself,  by 
his  humanity  and  heroism  on  that  occasion,  as  to  deserve  a 
civic  crown.  To  meet  the  rapid  increase  of  Catholicity,  the 
latter  gentleman  purchased  a  large  spot  of  ground  at  Clifton 
for  the  erection  of  a  spacious  church.  The  ground  was  first 
broken  11th  August,  1834,  and  on  4th  October  he  laid  its 
foundation-stone,  and  great  preparations  of  materials  were 
made.  Within  the  area  purchased,  he  erected  a  small  chapel 
in  honour  of  St.  Augustine,  where  Mass  was  first  said 
in  1842,  and  he  removed  thither  from  Trenchard-street  on 
9th  November  of  that  year.  But  the  enterprise  of  the 
contemplated  church  *  was  far  too  gigantic  for  his  limited 

•  The  ground  was  first  purchased  in  the  spring  of  1831,  but  lay 
unoccupied  for  more  than  three  years,  as  Bishop  Baines  apprehended 
it  would  interfere  with  his  new  establishment  at  Prior  Park  ;  but  at 


IN   GLOUCESTERSHIRE.  113 

means.  He  became  inyolved  in  such  inextricable  difficulties; 
as  to  be  gazetted  a  bankrupt;  but  he  sought  refuge  on 
the  Continent  from  the  importunities  of  his  creditors^ 
and  died  suddenly  at  Antwerp^  16th  November^  1850^  let. 
fifty-one. 

His  early  friend  and  confrere,  F.  O'Ferrall,  had  adopted  a 
much  more  judicious  course.  He  contrived  to  purchase  the 
already  well-built  and  graceful  church  of  the  Irvingites,  now 
.  St.  Mar/s-on^the-Quay^  at  Bristol.  It  was  solemnly  dedi- 
cated by  Bishop  Baines  on  5th  July,  1843,  and  the  zealous 
founder  was  properly  installed  its  6rst  incumbent. 

As  for  St.  Joseph's^  .Trenchard-street,  it  continued  to  be 
served  by  the  secular  clei^.  The  Rev.  James  Dawson  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Edgeworth,  but  for  four  months  only.  The 
Eev.  Thomas  Booker  followed  him  in  the  Lent  of  1848.  In 
July,  1843,  the  Rev.  William  Cullinson  took  the  place  of 
P.  O'Ferrall,  removed  to  St.  Mary's;  and  the  Rev.  Edward 
Metcalf  was  stationed  here  in  1844-5.  On  Septuagesima 
Sunday,  1847,  the  Rev.  William  Joseph  Vaughan  was  sent 
thither,  and  remained  till  6th  November,  1^48,  when  he 
passed  to  the  church  of  the  Twelve  Apostles,  at  Clifton. 

Dr.  Baggs  reached  Prior  Park,  as  successor  to  Bishop 
Baines,  on  30th  May,  1844,  and  in  July  following  divided 
the  original  Bristol  mission  into  three  separate  ones;  viz. 
Clifton,  Trenchard-street,  and  St.  Mary's.  He  had  contem- 
plated, ffxnn  what  he  told  me,  the  restoration  of  Trenchard- 
street  to  its  rightM  owners ;  but  death  snatched  him  away 
16th  October,  1845.  His  successor.  Bishop  XJUathorne, 
hastened  to  do  justice.  He  wrote  to  the  provincial,  F.  B. 
Lythgoe,  that  he  desired  the  body  should  resume  possession 
of  Trenchard-street  House  and  Chapel,  for  Sunday,  31st 
October,  1847 ;  and  F.  George  Bampton,  S.  J.,  received  orders 

last  the  foundation-stone  was  laid  on  4th  October,  1834.  For  several 
years  the  edifice  appeared  as  a  pile  of  ruins.  At  length,  in  the  autumn 
of  1847«  Biiihop  Ullathome  contracted  for  the  purcluse  of  the  site  for 
£2,/H)0,  and  took  possession  on  4th  Xovember  that  year.  Some  pro- 
gress was  made  in  the  works,  when  nine  months  later  he  was  translated 
to  Birminffham.  Bis  successor,  Bishop  Hendren,  directed  the  interior 
of  the  edifice  to  be  completed  at  once  ;  and  thb  Church  of  the  Twelve 
Apostles  was  solemnly  opened  on  21st  September,  1848.  On  8th  April, 
1860,  a  suitable  house  for  the  bishop  and  clergy  of  Uie  church  was  com- 
menced, and  was  so  eneigetically  pushed  on  by  the  architect,  Mr.  Charles 
Hansom,  and  the  pastor.  Canon  Vaughan,  mat  it  was  habitable  by  the 
8th  of  October  following. 

And  here  we  may  be  permitted  to  acknowledge  the  nreat  obligations 
which  religion  owes  to  J.  Spencer  Northcote.  Esq.,  tor  editing  <<  The 
Clifton  Tracts,"  which  wonderfully  enUghtened  the  public  mind,  and 
disarmed  prejudice. 


114  REVIEW  OF  VHB   MISSIOKB 

to  pifooeed  thither  for  the  purpose,  F.  Thomas  Spealman  being 
assigned  for  his  assistant.  The  latter  was  replaced  in  March 
following  by  F.  Henry  Mahon.  On  6th  December,  1849, 
F.  Bampton  was  called  away  to  serve  the  new  church  in 
Farm-street,  London,  when  F.  William  Johnston  was  ap<- 
pointed  to  the  mission ;  and  on  F.  Mahon's  departure,  the 
Rev.  William  Knight  was  sent  to  be  the  companion  of  his 
apostolic  labours. 

The  present  state  of  religion  in  Bristol  and  its  environs, 
compared  with  what  I  remember  it  in  1807,  forces  me  to  lifk 
up  my  heart  in  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  Gk)d,  for  lavishing 
the  riches  of  salvation  on  immortal  souls.  F.  Robert  Plow- 
den  was  then  the  sole  incumbent  of  the  city  (and  obliged  to 
visit  Swansea  even),  though  he  derived  occasional  help  finom 
some  visiting  brother,  but  especially  from  two  French  abbes, 
Le  Villain  and  Montier,  professors  of  the  French  language 
in  the  highest  drdes,  and  whose  exemplary  character  mi^ 
have  contributed  not  a  little  to  soften  down  prejudice.  Their 
biography  will  be  given  in  Part  the  Second. 

Now,  blessed  be  God,  we  behold  a  lai^  and  respectable 
congregation  worshipping  in  the  church  of  the  Twelve 
Apostles ;  we  possess  the  commanding  church  of  St.  Mary's- 
on-the<rQuay,  the  fruit  of  the  energetic  zeal  cf  F.  OTernJl, 
who  deserves  much  better  support.  We  retain  the  original 
ehurch  of  St.  Joseph,  that  joyful  mother  of  children,  and 
having  frilly  2,000  commumcants  attached.  We  have  the 
beautiful  convent  of  the  Dominicanesses  of  St.  Catherine, 
under  the  shade  of  the  Twelve  Apostles.  Again,  we  have 
seen  the  Augustinian  Church  of  St.  Nicholas  rising  to  open 
its  gates  for  divine  worship  on  21st  September,  1850,  on  the 
Stapleton-road — the  precious  community  of  the  Qood  Shep« 
herd  at  Amo  (Notre  Dame  de  Charit^,  a  filiation  from  the 
mother  house  of  Angers),''^  in  full  activity  since  22nd  July, 
1851 — ^and  their  elder  sisters,  those  tntelaiy  angels  of  mercy, 
in  Dighton-street.  It  is  delightful  also  to  witness  the  pro« 
portionate  increase  of  poor  schools,  and  the  progress  of  their 
improvement  in  useful  and  scientific  information.  Where  I 
remember  but  one  priest,  I  can  count  nearly  a  dozen  to  meet 
the  demands  of  the  faithful.  The  public  services  of  the 
Church  are  well  and  eflSciently  performed,  to  say  nothing  of 
Clifton  possessing  its  bishop  and  chapter  since  29th  Septem- 
ber, 1850.t    Oh  I  let  us  all  magnify  the  Lord,  and  exult  in 

*  The  Convent  at  Hammersmith,  founded  in  1841. 

t  I  say  nothing  at  present  of  the  Visitation  Convent  at  Westbury- 
on-Trim,  as  I  have  to  make  my  report  of  it  in  Chapter  XIV.  But 
I  may  notice  here   their  beautiful  chapel,  tlie  foundation-stone  of 


IN   GLOUCB8TEB8HIRE.  llS 

QoA  the  Savionr ;  let  every  fibre  of  party  spirit  be  extirpated 
firom  our  breasts ;  and  let  as  ever  act  on  the  recommendation 
of  the  Apostle — Heb.  z.  24:  '^Consideremns  invioem  in 
provocationem  charitatis  et  bonomm  operum/' 

Beckford,  at  the  foot  of  the  Bredon  Hills^  is  five  miles 
from  Tewkesbury.  The  original  name  of  the  manor  was 
Beccanford^  where  was  an  alien  Augnstinian  Priory^  attached 
to  Ste.  Barbe-en-Auge,  on  the  Dive.  At  the  suppression  of 
alien  houses^  King  Henry  VI.  annexed  it  to  his  foundation  of 
Eton  College.  It  was  then  valued  at  £58.  68.  Sd.  per  annum* 
King  Edward  IV.  transferred  the  gift  to  Fotheringay  Colle- 
giate Church,  shortly  after  the  dusolution  of  which^  King 
Edward  VI.,  in  1547^  granted  the  manor  to  Sir  Richard  Lee, 
Knight^  of  whose  family  it  was  purchased  by  Richard  Wake- 
man,  Esq.,  in  1586.  This  gentleman  had  acquired,  seven 
years  before,  possession  of  the  Muythe,  or  Mythe. 

In  general,  I  believe,  a  chaplain  was  to  be  found  attached 
to  this  Catholic  family,  but  few  names  have  come  to  light. 
An  anonymous  Benedictine  was  here  in  1717.  F.  Isaac 
Oibson,  S.  J.,  died  here  10th  November,  1788,  set.  sixty-four. 
The  Hon.  and  Rev.  Robert  Dormer,  S.J.,  resided  here  for  a 
time.  F.  Placid  Bennett,  O.S.B.,  was  certainly  here  in  1788. 
L'Abbe  Louvelle,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Kenyon,  and  the  Rev.  J. 
Harrison,  were  the  last  incumbents.  After  the  death  of 
William  Wakeman,  Esq.,  1st  January,  1886,  the  remnants  of 
this  Catholic  congregation  were  in  the  habit  of  repairing,  at 
the  eight  Plenary  Indulgences,  to  Overbury,  where  Mrs. 
Eyston  had  a  small  oratory  fitted  up  in  her  mansion ;  but 
these  driblets,  with  the  handftil  of  Catholics  in  Tewkesbury 
and  the  Mythe,  are  now  amalgamated  in  the  Kemertou 
mission. 

IL  Norton. — ^The  reader  will  not  confound  this  manor  with 
the  Horton  in  Pimpem  Deanery,  Dorset,  which  was  consoli- 
dated with  Sherborne  Abbey.  Ours  is  in  the  deanery  of 
Hawkesbury,  and  annexed  as  a  prebend  to  Salisbury  Cathedral 
nntil  the'Reformation,  when  it  was  detached  and  secularized, 
and  granted  to  that  Toracious  Lord  Protector,  Edward  Sey- 
mour duke  of  Somerset.  On  his  attainder  in  1553,  King 
Edward  YI.  bestowed  it  on  Clement  Paston,  of  Norfolk,  Esq. 
Until  the  family  mansion  of  Appleton,  in  that  county,  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1708,  and  John  Paston,  Esq.,^  came  in 

which  was  laid  on  25th  September,  1834,  and  which  was  opened  on  8th 
December,  1835.  Every  spectator  must  be  gratified  with  the  sight  of  its 
graceful  altar. 

*  Was  he  not  nephew  of  Dr.  Edward  Paston,  who  died  President  of 
Douay  College  21  st  July,  1714,  eet.  seventy-four  ? 

I  2 


IIQ  REVIEW  OF  THE   MISSIONS 

consequence  to  reside  in  the  Court  House  at  Horton^  I  under- 
stand no  chaplain  was  maintained  here.  A  few  years  after 
the  death  of  his  son^  William  Paston,  Esq.^  on  Ist  January, 
1769,  the  mission  was  discontinued,  viz.  at  the  retirement  of 
the  Rev.  Placid  Waters,  O.S.B.,  in  1777,  and  the  estate  sold. 

From  my  kind  friend,  the  Rev.  B.  M.  Cooper,  of  the  same 
venerable  order,  I  learn  that  from  the  year  1795  until  1815, 
FF.  Pembridge  and  Ainsworth  attended  the  few  remaining 
Catholics  at  Horton  during  the  eight  Indulgences,  from  Bath, 
a  distance  of  fifteen  miles ;  and  that  F.  Birdsall,  in  1815,  con* 
tinned  to  perform  the  same  charitable  office  from  Cheltenham. 
'*  He  said  Mass  at  Horton  in  the  upper  chamber  of  a  poor 
cottage ;  the  room  was  ten  feet  long  by  nine,  with  scarcely 
head-room  between  him  and  the  thatch.  I  met  him  at  that 
cottage  and  served  his  Mass.  A  deal  table  was  used  for  the 
altar,  and  the  wind  blew  through  the  broken  panes  of  the 
window ;  about  nine  or  ten  persons  assembled.  In  1823  I 
was  appointed  to  the  Bath  mission  and  to  this  office.  I  suc- 
ceeded in  procuring  a  cheese-room  in  a  farm-house  the  same 
year;  it  was  fifteen  feet  by  twelve,  where  I  attended  eight 
times  a  year  from  Bath.''  The  same  rev.  gentleman,  in 
another  letter,  furnished  me  with  the  following  particulars 
about  old  Horton : — "  There  is  an  old  man  still  living  [1855] 
who  remembers  Mass  being  said  in  the  chapel  at  the  Manor 
House  at  Horton,  in  the  time  of  William  Paston,  Esq.  In 
1833  I  went  to  see  this  chapel  with  Sir  Henry  and  Lady 
Paston  Bedingfeld,  from  Bath.  The  Manor  House  was  not 
inhabited.  We  gave  5«.  to  an  old  woman,  who  kept  the 
key  of  the  old  hsdl-door,  to  let  us  in.  The  chapel-door  was 
barred;  but  finding  an  opening  in  a  lath-and-plaster  wall, 
we  crept  in  all  covered  with  cobwebs,  dust,  and  lime.  Here 
we  stood  in  the  old  chapel  sanctuary,  with  its  moth-eaten 
green  baice  carpet,  a  well-carved  oak  altar,  a  mahogany  taber-* 
nacle,  two  old  candlesticks,  and  a  little  bell  on  the  altar  steps, 
on  the  epistle  side,  with  ave  maria  round  the  rim.  The 
tabernacle  was  locked.  I  shook  it;  but  evidently  it  was 
empty.  A  beautiful  framed  triangle  adorned  the  sanctuary, 
circling  with  rays  of  glory.  The  communion-rails  were 
quite  perfect,  as  also  the  family  pews.  A  Gothic  window 
terminated  the  west  end  of  the  chapel,  with  beautiful  tracery. 
Oh !  quantum  mutatus !  The  beautiM  window  was  torn 
down  in  1849.  The  chapel  itself  is  turned  into  the  village 
school,  and  every  remnant  is  gone  except  the  triangle,  to  tell 
its  melancholy  story  of  bygone  days  I" 

Horton  is  now  merged  in  the  mission  of  Chipping 
Sodbury. 


IN   GLOUCS8TER8HIEB.  117 

III.  Hartpury. — ^This  valaable  manor^  before  the  suppression 
oF  monasteries,  belonged  to  St.  Peter's  Abbey,  Oloucester. 
The  Crown  then  coming  into  legal  possession,  disposed  of  the 
manor  to  the  knightly  family  of  Compton.  The  last  Sir 
WiUiam  Compton  left  no  male  issue,  but  two  daughters  co- 
heiresses; one  married  Mr.  Bearcroft,  and  had  no  issue;  the 
other  married  John  Berkeley,  of  Hendlip,  Esq.  Mr.  Berkeley 
also  left  two  daughters,  one,  Catherine,  married  to  Mr.  Can- 
ning, of  Foxcote,  Warwickshire;  the  other,  Jane,  married,  in 
May,  1799,  Thomas  Viscount  Southwell. 

At  Hartpury  a  priest  was  kept.  I  meet  two  Benedictines, 
P.  Butler  alias  Berry,  in  1769,  and  P.  Bernard  Young;  but 
regret  to  add  that  I  have  not  recovered  the  names  of  other 
chaplains  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  Dominicanesses  in 
1794,  But  more  of  Hartpury  in  the  two  next  chapters. 
Since  the  nims  aforesaid  removed  to  Atherstone,  in  Warwick- 
shire, September,  1839,  Hartpury  has  been  an  appendage  to 
the  Oloucester  mission. 

rV.  Haiherop. — By  the  marriage  of  Mary,  the  heiress  of 
the  Bloomer  family,  to  Sir  John  Webb,  this  property  was 
acquired ;  and  within  my  memory  has  passed  away  by  the 
marriage  of  the  heiress  of  the  Webbs  to  the  Ponsonby 
family.    All  has  been  effected  within  two  centuries. 

I  am  credibly  informed  that  the  Bev.  Robert  Bowes,  alias 
Lane,  author  of  the  ''Practical  Reflections,''  had  long 
resided  here ;  but  died  at  Bath  on  1 7th  December,  1735.  I 
know  of  no  other  chaplain  at  Hatherop  before  the  arrival  of 
the  Rev.  John  Lee.  After  a  few  years,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Bavarian  chapel,  London,  and  died  13th  July,  1839,  aged 
seventy-one. 

v.  Gloucester. — Comparatively  speaking,  this  a  modem 
mission.  The  Webb  family  can  claim  theprincipal  merit  of 
its  foundation ;  but  especially  Miss  Mary  Webb,  daughter  of 
Sir  John  Webb,  Bart.,  by  his  wife  Mary  (Salvin).  This 
zealous  young  lady  died  at  Clifton,  on  30th  September, 
1787.  By  a  letter  of  the  said  Sir  John  Webb,  addressed,  on 
9th  August,  1788,  to  Bishop  Walmesley,  I  ascertain  that  the 
wish  of  his  family  was  that  the  nomination  of  the  incumbent 
of  Gloucester  should  be  vested  in  the  Vicar- Apostolic  of  the 
London  District. 

1 .  The  first  resident  priest,  I  believe,  was  the  Rev,  George 
Thomas  Gildari ;  but  his  stay  was  not  long,  for  he  quitted 
18th  May,  1789. 

He  was  educated  at  Valladolid.  On  returning  a  priest  to 
England,  he  was  employed  for  a  time  in  London,  thence  at 
Stonor,  CO.  Oxford,  and  thence  at  Gloucester.    Por  a  certain 


118  RETIBW  OF   THX    MISSIONS 

period  he  lived  with  the  Bev.  Edward  Wright  at  Holywell. 
During  the  twenty  years  that  he  served  Monmouth,  he  was 
euab]^  to  erect  its  public  chapeL  Infirmities  increasing 
upon  him,  he  retired  to  Usk,  then  to  Brecon,  and  ended  his 
mortal  course  at  Swansea ;  in  St.  Mary's  churchyard  may 
be  seen  his  gravestone,  at  the  east  end,  thus  inscribed, — 

I.    H.    S. 

Sacred 

To  the  memory  of 

The  Rev.  George  Thomas  Gildart^ 

Who  after  many  vears  of  severe  bodily  affliction 

Calmly  expired  on  Monday,  Feb.  17, 1827, 

Aged  63. 

May  he  rest  in  peace. 

2.  The  Rev.  John  Jones,  who  supplied  for  a  brief  interval 
after  Mr.  Gildart's  retirement,  and  again  for  the  three  first 
years  of  the  present  century,  after  the  death  of  the  Rev,  John 
Greenway*  the  third  pastor,  when  he  returned  to  the  Mon- 
mouth mission.  This  venerable  Douay  priest  died  at 
Manchester  on  11th  March,  1810,  set.  eighty^onCj  and  was 
interred  in  St.  Patrick^s  churchyard. 

4.  VAbbi  Dwhemin  was  admitted  pastor  by  Bishop 
Douglass,  on  the  strong  recommendation  of  the  acv.  John 
Jones.  He  continued  his  efficient  services  from  January, 
1804,  untQ  1816,  and  in  the  course  of  the  summer  of  that 
year  returned  to  France.  In  a  letter  I  received  from  Caeu, 
dated  5th  January,  1845,  I  read  that  he  died  at  Bayeux 
a  model  of  edification,  deeply  regretted,  nearly  ten  years  ago : 
"  il  y  a  pen  pres  dix  ans.*' 

5.  Bernard  Giraud  succeeded  his  countryman,  and  had 
the  charge  of  the  congregation  until  his  death,  4th  Novem* 
ber,  1825,  set.  sixty-four.  His  remains  were  deposited  in 
the  cemetery  of  St.  John  the  Baptist's  parish. 

6.  John  Burke,  a  native  of  Tipperary,  educated  in  St. 
John's  College,  Waterford,  after  serving  Bristol  for  about  a 
twelvemonth,  was  sent  here.  He  remained  about  two  years, 
then  left  for  Usk ;  whence  he  winged  his  flight  to  America, 
unmindful  of  his  vocation.  His  sad  fall  reminds  us  of  the 
text,  Matt.  V.  13,  "  Vos  estis  sal  terrse,"  &c. 

7.  Auffustin  VJosse.  This  respectable  abbe  accepted  the 
charge  of  the  mission  in  February,  1828,  and  held  it  until 
three  days  before  his  lamented  death,  which  occurred   on 

*  Of  this  reverend  pastor,  who  removed  the  chapel  from  a  back  lane, 
purchased  the  present  premises,  and  erected  St  Peter^s  Chapel,  I  shall 
treat  fully  in  the  second  part.    Obiit  29th  November,  1800,  eet  fifty. 


IN  GLOUOESTERSHIBE.  119 

28th  Januaiy^  1841,  let.  seventy-eight.  He  was  buried  in 
the  vault  of  his  quondam  Mend  and  predecessor,  TAbbe 
Giraud. 

8.  Peter  Hartley.  Of  this  laborious  ecclesiastic  I  shall 
treat  amply  in  the  biographical  part.  Suffice  it  to  say  at 
present,  that  after  six  years  and  a  nalfs  service^  he  caught  a 
contagious  fever  from  his  attending  a  poor  Irish  traveller, 
that  on  29th  July,  1847,  he  received  all  the  rites  of  the 
Church,  and  died  on  3rd  August,  set.  fifty-five. 

9.  Henry  Godwin^  bom  near  Liverpool,  14th  December, 
1821,  studied  at  Lisbon,  and  vas  there  ordained  priest  on 
Saturday,  the  Ember  week  of  Advent,  1846.  After  Mr. 
Hartley's  death  he  was  appointed  his  successor;  but  seven 
months  later  was  transferred  to  St.  Mary's,  Stonehouse, 
which  he  left  in  January,  1850. 

10.  Michael  CarroU,  bom  in  Tipperaiy,  a.d.  1808,  suc- 
ceeded the  Rev.  H.  Oodwin  at  Qlouoester  late  in  March, 
1848,  on  whose  removal  to  Falmouth, 

11.  TTumoi  Michael  McDonnett,  an  experienced  and 
talented  missioner,  accepted  the  chiurge,  and  zealously  per- 
formed it  for  two  years,  when  Bishop  Hendren  transferred 
him,  in  July,  1850,  to  the  wider  and  more  important  vine- 
yard at  St.  Mary's,  Stonehouse.  I  shall  have  to  treat 
lai^ely  of  this  able  veteran  in  the  second  part  of  this  work. 

12.  Henry  Janes  next  supplied  for  nearly  four  months; 
viz.,  from  12th  July  to  9th  November,  1850,  when 
Leonard  CdUerbank  was  appointed  the  thirteenth  incumbent 
at  Gloucester. 

YI.  Cheltenham. — In  p.  57  I  have  mentioned  that  the 
Bev.  John  Augustine  Birdsall,  O.S.B.,  after  assisting  at 
Bath  for  three  years  and  a  half,  quitted,  in  October,  1809, 
to  commence  a  new  mission  at  Cheltenham.  He  had 
received  encouragement  from  the  late  Richard  Bawe,  Esq.,  to 
originate  this  enterprise,  and  he  bravely  triumphed  over 
every  difficulty.  On  3rd  June,  1810,  he  opened  a  chapel  in 
honour  of  St.  Gregory  the  Great;  and  such  was  the  progress 
of  religion  in  consequence  of  his  apostolical  zeal,  seconded  by 
his  coadjutors  and  successors,  FF.  Shann  and  Dowding,  from 
April  1885  to  1841,  Henry  F.  Paillet,  from  1848  to  1849, 
and  other  sons  of  St.  Benedict,  that  several  times  the  chapel 
required  to  be  extended ;  and  now,  under  FF.  Gotham  and 
Blount,  of  the  same  venerable  order,  a  spacious  church  is 
soon  to  be  opened  to  receive  the  increasing  numbers  of  the 
faithftil. 

During  the  disgraceful  riots  in  November,  1850,  organized 
under  pretence  of  our  new  hierarchy,  the  chapel  of  St.  Gre- 


120.  BEYIBW  OF  THE   MISSIONS 

gory  and  the  incumbent's  nremises  were  outrageously 
attacked  by  the  mob^  and  would  probably  have  been  demo- 
lished^ if  the  civil  authorities  had  not  come  to  the  rescue. 
All  damages  were  made  good  by  the  Hundred,  instead  of 
being  settled  by  private  arbitration,  as  the  instigators  of 
the  mischief  had  proposed  and  expected.  This  exposure,  I 
trust,  will  serve  for  a  caution  to  the  workers  of  iniquity. 
As  a  mark  of  improved  good  feeling  amongst  the  better 
classes,  I  was  pleased  to.  hear  that  my  friend  Greorge  Arthur 
Williams  was  elected,  in  November,  1847,  High  Bailiff  of 
Cheltenham, — ^the  first  Catholic  so  honoured  since  the  days 
of  Queen  Elizabeth. 

VII.  Chipping  Sodbury. — Here  Mrs.  Neve,*  who  realized 
the  character  given  of  Dorcas,  Acts  ix.  86, — "Hsdc  erat 
plena  operibus  bonis  et  eleemosynis  quas  faciebat,'' — ^founded 
a  mission  for  the  Benedictines.  For  this  purpose  she  bought 
convenient  premises  at  the  expense  of  £1,300,  and  added  an 
endowment  of  £50  per  annum.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Boiling 
(see  the  biographical  part  of  this  work)  arrived  here  as  the 
first  pastor  on  26th  October,  1838,  and  celebrated  Mass  in 
the  new  chapel,  which  is  50  feet  long  by  26  broad,  on 
Sunday,  two  days  later.  Within  four  years  later  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Bev.  Henry  Ignatius  Sutton.  In  p.  59  I  have 
stated  that  the  Bev.  Balph  Maurus  Cooper,  after  rendering 
invaluable  service  at  Bath  for  twenty-three  years  and  a  half, 
was  allowed  to  retire  to  this  comparatively  easy  mission  in 
1846.  Here  his  attention  to  the  beauty  of  God's  house,  and 
his  affectionate  and  disinterested  zeal  for  souls  in  the  scat- 
tered  population  around  him,  must  make  him  an  instrument 
of  blessings.  But  I  must  reserve  for  the  second  part  of 
this  compilation  the  details  of  his  meritorious  life. 

YIII.  Kemertan,  near  Tewkesbury. — ^This  mission  possesses 
the  beautiful  gem  of  St.  Bennetts  church,  with  its  painted 
windows.  The  design  was  furnished  by  Mr.  Hadfidd,  of 
Sheffield.  Dr.  Barber,  the  president  of  the  Benedictines, 
sung  the  High  Mass  at  its  opening,  18th  July,  1843 ;  Bishop 
Brown,  of  the  same  order,  preached,  and  twelve  monks 
assisted  at  the  ceremony.  I  understand  that  the  Eyston 
family  has  the  merit  of  this  foundation,  and  that  the  Throg* 
mortons  and  Tidmarshes  are  great  benefactors.  The  Bev. 
Samuel  Day  was  the  first  pastor,  and  was  efficiently  sue- 

.  *  She  died  in  her  house  at  Cheltenham  in  1840.  Her  name  was 
Sarah  Lunn  before  her  marriage  to  the  Rev.  E^rton  Neve,  whom  she 
survived  many  years.  By  the  death  of  her  sister,  relict  of  Philip 
St.  Martin,  comte  de  Front  (the  Sardinian  ambassador,  who  died 
4th  November,  1812),  she  received  an  increase  to  her  fortune. 


IN   OLOUCB8TBR8HIBB.  121 

ceeded^  in  1848^  by  the  Rev.  PeCer  Ridgeway^  of  the  same 
venerable  order. 

IX.  jRitr/brrf.* 

X.  JVoodchester. — ^William  Leigh^  Esq.^  a  recent  convert 
to  the  Catholic  faith,  purchased,  in  November,  1845,  the 
extensive  estate  of  the  Dude  family  in  Glouoeatershire.  In 
gratitude  to  Heaven,  for  his  singular  vocation  to  the  one  true 
religion,  he  determined  to  erect  on  his  property  a  large 
church  in  honour  of  our  Blessed  Lady  of  the  Annunciation, 
which  should  be  served  by  a  community  of  Regulars.  Here 
the  name  of  a  Catholic  was  hardly  known.  In  the  Tablet  of 
28th  March,  1846,  it  was  stated  that.  F.  Dominic,  superior 
of  the  Passionists,  had  left  Aston,  in  Staffordshire,  to' 
establish  a  temporary  monasterv  at  Northfield,  in  Avening 
parish.  This  was  a  house  which  Mr.  Leigh  had  hired  of  a 
Dissenting  minister  for  two  years,  who  little  suspected  that 
his  place  was  to  be  a  receptacle  for  the  professors  of  Popery. 
In  this  house  Mass  was  first  said  on  25th  March, — a  blessed 
day  for  that  vidnity, — in  1846.  In  the  mean  time  active 
preparations  were  making  to  commence  a  church  and 
monastery  at  Woodchester  after  a  design  of  Mr.  Charles 
Hansom,  of  Clifton,  The  foundation-stone  of  the  present 
commanding  church  was  laid  by  Bishop  UUathome  on 
96th  November,  1846.  It  was  solemnly  consecrated  on 
Wednesday,  10th  October,  1849,  by  Bishop  Hendren,  V.A. 
of  the  Western  District,  assisted  by  Bishop  UUathome,  who 
had  been  translated  to  the  vicariat  of  the  Middle  District.  On 
the  following  day  the  noble  church  was  opened  with  unusual 
splendour.  This,  as  the  day  before,  was  ushered  in  with  the 
joyftil  pealing  of  the  church  bells,  called  St.  Crabriel's,  St. 
Elizabeth's,  and  St.  Mary's.t  Soon  after  deven  o'dock  the 
procession  moved  from  the  sacristy :  first 

The  Thurifer. 

A  Passioiiist  Father,  as  Cross-bearer. 

Acolytha^  WUliain  Leigh,  Jun.,  Esq.,  and  H.  Doyle,  Esq. 

Twelve  boys  in  cassock  and  surplice. 

The  Clergy,  two  and  two,  in  great  numbers. 

Bbhop  Wiseman  with  his  Chaplain. 

Rev.  F.  Ignatius  Spencer,  as  Superior  of  the  Passionists. 

Bishop  Ullathome,  with  his  Deacon  and  Subdeacon, 

And  Rev.  W.  J.  Vanghan,  as  assistant  Priest. 

Bishop  Hendren,  with  nis  two  attendant  Priests, 

And  F.  Bonomi,  as  Master  of  Ceremonies. 


*  The  parish  church  is  celebrated  for  its  twenty-five  windows,  exe- 
cuted in  Flanders,  and -captured  in  1492  in  a  Spanish  yessel  on  her  way 
from  a  Flemish  port  to  South  America. — See  Arctieol.  Jour.  No.  48,  p.  359. 

t  They  had  been  blessed  by  Bishop  Hendren  9th  August,  1849, 
St.  Gabnel's,  weight  5  cwt. ;  St.  Elizabeth's,  4  cwt. ;  St.  Mary's,  3  cwt. 


122  BKVISW  OF  m   MISSIONS 

After  passing  up  the  nortli  aisle^  and  down  the  nave^  ihey 
entered  the  gorgeous  sanctuary,  when  the  High  Mass  com- 
menced. The  dazzling  beauty  of  the  pontifical  and  clerical 
robes, — ^the  gravity  of  the  assistants, — ^the  melody  of  the  vocal 
and  instrumental  music, — the  dignified  eloquence  of  Bishop 
Wiseman,— -and  the  silent  attention  of  the  immense  midti- 
tude,  inspired  awe  and  devotional  feeling. 

In  the  evening,  the  joyful  ringing  of  bells  summoned  the 
faithful  to  Vespers.  After  the^  had  been  chanted,  Bishop 
UUathome  addressed  the  multitude  in  a  strain  of  impas- 
sioned eloquence;  after  which,  solemn  benediction  of  the 
sacrament  was  given.  All  must  have  retired  with  the 
imj^ression,  ''We  have  seen  wonders  on  this  day :'' — ''Quia 
vidimus  mirabiUa  hodie;''  and  we  believe  the  groundwork 
was  laid  for  several  conversions. 

The  Passionists,  on  7th  October,  1850,  quitted  Woodchester 
to  establish  themselves  at  Broadway,  in  Worcestershire,  and 
the  next  day  F.  Proctor,  ex-provincial  of  the  Dominicans, 
was  put  into  possession  of  the  premises  by  the  founder, 
William  Leigh,  Esq.  But  the  spacious  and  convenient 
monastery  was  not  fully  opened  before  11th  August,  1853, 
which,  as  a  spectator  I  can  truly  affirm,  was  a  day  of  glorious 
triumph  for  religion. 

XI.  Nympsfield. — ^The  apostolical  zeal  of  the  Dominicans, 
who  are  by  profession  preachers  of  the  Word  of  Life,  has  iur 
duoed  them,  with  encouragement,  to  open  a  mission  in  this 
parish  under  the  patronage  of  St.  Joseph.  A  room  has  been 
licensed  and  registered  for  Catholic  worship.  Mass  was  for 
the  first  time  cdebrated  here  on  Sunday,  21st  March,  1852. 

XII.  Cirencester. — ^The  Kev.  Anselm  Glassbrook,  O.S.B., 
who  had  taken  the  habit  as  early  as  1823,  after  serving  Chel- 
tenham for  a  time,  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation at  Fairford.  Having  succeeded  in  obtaining  some 
desirable  premises  in  the  town  of  Cirencester,  he  fitted  up  a 
neat  little  chapel,  capable  of  holding  100  persons,  which  he 
opened  for  divine  worship  on  23rd  January,  1855.  F.  Thomas 
M'Donnel,  of  Shortwood,  who  preached  on  this  occasion, 
informs  me,  that  no  such  attempt  had  been  made  in  Ciren- 
cester since  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  A  correspondent, 
in  a  letter  dated  24th  October,  1855,  writes  that  this  zealous 
and  laborious  monk  has  ''  now  removed  into  Cirencester,  and 
that  Mass  is  said  but  once  a  month  at  Fairford.'' 

Lord  de  Mauley  for  a  time  allowed  £40  per  annum  to  the 
incumbent  at  Fairford. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  I  find  two  Benedictine  chaplains 
at  Stoke,  in  Gloucestershire ;  viz.,  F.  Laurence  Lodwick,  who 


IN   GLOX7CJB8TER8HIBE*  128 

died  there  3rd  October^  1633 ;  F.  Gregory  Baoon^  who  died 
there  4th  April,  1663 ;  and  a  few  also  at  Marlborough,  with 
the  Hyde  family. 

XIII.  Stroud. — A  new  mission  was  commenced  here  in 
February,  1866,  by  the  good  Dominicans  of  Woodchester, 
and  promises  well.  On  Tuesday,  27th  May,  1856,  the  first 
stone  of  its  new  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  our 
Lady  was  laid  by  Archbishop  Errington,  as  administrator  of 
the  vacant  diocese  of  Clifton.    Florescut  I 


124  CATHOLIC   FAMILIBS   IN   OLOUCBSTEBSHIRE. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN  aLOUCBSTSRSHIRB. 

I  APPREHEND  that  the  Wakemana  may  take  precedence  of 
the  Catholic  families^  established  residents  in  the  county.  In 
page  115  I  have  briefly  alluded  to  their  mission. 

John  Wych,  alias  Wakeman^  abbot  of  Tewkesbury,  after 
about  eight  years'  goveminent,  surrendered  his  house  to  the 
Royal  Commissioners  on  7th  November,  1539,  and  for  such 
subserviency  was  assigned  a  pension  of  £266.  10^.  4J.  per 
annum.  Of  course  this  ceased  on  his  promotion  to  the  new 
see  of  Oloucester,  to  which  he  was  consecrated  on  the  25th 
September,  1541,  at  Croydon,  and  which  he  held  for  about 
the  same  period  that  he  had  presided  over  the  abbey  of 
Tewkesbury,  dying  early  in  December,  1549.  Whilst  abbot 
he  had  prepared  his  tomb  in  a  chapel  of  the  conventual 
church ;  but  he  was  buried  at  Worthington. 

To  follow  up  successively  the  generations  of  the  family,  I 
fear  is  impracticable;  for  by  a  letter  of  Thomas  Wakeman, 
Esq.,  dated  Craig,  7th  June,  1843,  I  find  that  "every 
papec  during  the  civil  wars  in  the  reigns  of  Kings  Charles  I. 
and  Charles  II.  appears  to  have  been  carefully  destroved.^' 
But  is  it  not  a  reflection  on  the  family  that  none  were  found 
to  follow  up  the  biography  of  the  Sir  George  Wakeman, 
Bart., — the  ornament  and  gem  of  their  pedigree,  whom  I 
have  mentioned  in  p.  105.  He  was  the  second  son  of 
Edward  Wakeman,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Mary  Cotton.  This 
honoured  father,  after  spending  a  fortune  in  support  of  the 
royal  cause,  died  in  1659.  His  elder  brother,  Edward, 
married  Ann,  daughter  of  Benedict  Hall,  of  High  Meadow, 
Esq.,  and  died  in  consequence  of  wounds  received  in  the 
king's  service,  on  3l8t  August,  1662:  ''in  ipsa  setatis 
meridie,''  as  his  monument  states  in  Beckford  church.  I 
suspect  that  their  sister  Theresa  was  the  Teresian  nun  at 
Antwerp,  who  went,  in  August,  1678,  to  organize  the  new  \ 
colony  at  Hoogstraet.  After  presiding  over  her  sisters  there 
for  six  years,  she  returned  to  the  mother  house  at  Antwerp, 
where,  in  the  words  of  St.  Maximus,  ''Sanctam  perfec- 
iamque  vitam  mors  Deo  devota  conducit/' 


CATHOLIC    FAMILIES   IN   OLOUCEBTERSHIBE,  125 

"Where  Sir  G^rge  gradaated  as  physician^  I  cannot  dis- 
cover ;  certainly  not  in  either  of  our  Universities,  nor  was 
he  a  member  of  our  Boyal  College  of  Physicians;  but  it  is 
manifest,  from  p.  46  of  his  Trial,  published  by  authority  in 
1679,  that  he  was  physician  to  Queen  Catharine  "  for  nine 
years/'  Quitting  his  ungrateful  country,  he  retired  to  Paris, 
where  he  practised  his  profession  with  Sclat ;  but  Dodd,  who 
might  have  continued  his  biography  after  his  trial,  makes  no 
£Eurther  mention  of  him. 

The  late  William  Wakeman,  of  Beckford,  Esq.,  died  at 
Beckford,  on  1st  January,  1836,  at  the  patriarchal  age  of 
ninety-six. 

Of  the  Halbj  of  High  Meadow,  it  is  painful  to  say  that  I 
can  glean  but  few  particulars. 

Cecily  Hall  died,  3rd  March,  1651,  a  religious  in  the 
Benedictine  convent  of  our  Lady  of  Consolation  at  Cambray. 
Mrs.  Ann  Hall,  descended  of  the  Somersets,  marquesses  of 
Worcester,  and  relict  of  Benedict  Hall,  of  High  Meadow, 
retired  to  this  nunnery,  of  which  her  daughter  Catharine 
was  abbess,  and  there  died  20th  March,  1676,  set.  seventy- 
nine.  Her  reverend  daughter  died  in  office  on  17th  March, 
1692,  and  was  buried  near  her  mother.  By  the  marriage  of 
Ben^icta  Maria  Theresa,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of 
Benedict  Hall,  Esq.,  to  Thomas  Gage,  the  High-Meadow 
estates  passed  into  that  family.  The  firuit  of  this  marriage, 
William  Hall  Gage,  bom  1st  January,  1718,  was  subse- 
quently created  Baron  Gage,  of  Firle,  in  the  co.  of  Sussex, 
having  renounced  the  religion  of  his  forefathers. 

The  Pastons.— In  page  115  I  have  shown  how  the  Pastons, 
of  Norfolk,  came  into  the  possession  of  the  Horton  estate  in 
CO.  Gloucester. 

William  Paston,  Esq.,  of  Appleton,  co.  Norfolk,  died  on 
24th  March,  1673;  his  wife,  Mary  (Lawson),  survived  till 
23rd  September,  1679. 

John  was  the  first  who  settled  at  Horton.  He  married 
thrice :  1st,  Frances  (Tichbome) ;  she  gave  him  three  sons, 
— William,  Clement,*  and  James,  and  two  daughters, — ^Mary 
and  Frances;  and  died  10th  April,  1712. 

Secondly,  the  Honourable  Aiin,  daughter  of  Charles 
Lord  Baltimore,  and  relict  of  Edward  Somerset.  She  died 
10th  February,  1731. 

Thirdly,  Catharine  Bostock. 

•  Is  this  the  Clement  Paston,  Esq.,  who,  dying  at  Worcester  17th 
May,  1788,  at  an  advanced  age,  was  buried  at  'St.  Oswald's  cemetery 
there?  His  widow,  Mrs.  Mary  Isabella  Paston,  died  11th  December, 
1794,  and  was  buried  in  the  same  vault. 


126  JCATHOLIC    PAMILnSS   IN   6LOUCBSTEB8HIRE. 

.  This  John  Paston  died  7th  October,  1737,  set.  sixty-eight, 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son  William. 

In  the  parish  register  of  Arlington  I  read, — "  1751.  Wil- 
liam Paston,  Esq.,  and  Mary  Chichester,  were  married/'  But 
this  was  his  second  wife,  for  his  first  lady  was  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  Courtenay,  of  Holland,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Amy, 
daughter  of  Thomas,  Lord  Clifford,  baron  of  Chudleigh. 
His  first  wife  left  him  an  only  child,  Anna  Maria  Paston, 
who  married,  as  I  find  in  the  said  parish  register,  on  Slst 
June,  1748,  Greorge  Throgmorton,  Esq.,  only  son  of  Sir 
Bobert  Throgmorton,  Bart.  Their  sole  issue  was  Ann 
Throgmorton,  who  dying  at  Calverleigh  Court  on  6th  Novem- 
ber,  1783,  was  buried  in  the  Nagle  vault  of  the  adjoining 
parish  church. 

In  the  north  aisle  of  Horton  church  may  be  seen  a  memo* 
rial  thus  inscribed. 

*'  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  William  Paston,  late  of  Horton,  Esq. 
A  man  enriched  hy  Nature  and  by  Art 
With  what  could  please  and  interest  each  heart. 
In  upper  life,  by  all  who  saw,  approved. 
In  lower  life,  by  all  who  knew  him,  loved. 
No  epitaph  his  virtues  need  proclaim. 
His  actions  ever  will  endear  his  name. 
An  upright,  generous,  open-hearted  friend. 
Horton,  deplore  thy  Ion,  lament  his  end  I  * 
He  was  twice  married.    His  first  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
Courtenay,  of  Holland,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  one  of  the 
co-heiresses  of  her  brother 
John  Courtenay,  of  the  same  place,  Esq. 
She  died  Oct.  the  29th,  a.d.  1747. 
His  second  wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Giles  Chichester,  of  Arlington, 
in  that  county,  Esq.,  who,  as  a  grateful  testimony  of  her 
sincere  love  and  affection, 
Caused  this  monument  to  be  erected  to  the  deceased. 
By  his  first  wife  he  had  issue  one  daughter,  Anna  Maria,  married  to 
George,  the  only  son  of  Sir  Robert  Throgmorton,  of  Weston 
Underwood,  in  the  county  of  Berks,  Bart. 
By  his  second  wife  he  had  no  issue. 
He  died  January  the  lltli,  Anno  Dom,  1769, 
iBtatis  sues  69. 
Bequieteat  in  Pace,^ 

Of  the  influential  family  of  Webb  I  have  had  frequent 
occasion  to  speak. 

Major-Gren.  Webb  was  dreadfully  wounded  at  Newbery 
by  case-shot ;  but  whether  in  the  first  battle  fought  there  on 

*  He  lost  his  life  through  the  carelessness  of  a  sempstress  leaving  a 
needle  in  the  sleere  of  his  shirt.  His  widow  died  at  Weston  17ih  June, 
1772. 


CATHOLIC   FAMILIES  IN  OLOI7CESTKII8HIBB.  127 

20th  September^  1648,  or  in  the  second/  on  27ih  October^ 
1644, 1  am  not  prepared  to  say. 

King  Charles  I.  created  John  Webb,  of  Odstock,  po. 
Wilts,  Esq.,  a  baronet,  2nd  April,  1644,  in  consideration  of 
the  sacrifices  made  by  the  family  for  the  royal  cause. 

A  branch  of  the  Jertdngham  family  was  established  at 
Painswick,  in  Bisley  himdred.  Sir  Henry  Jemingham,  the 
second  baronet  of  his  family,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Benedict  Hall,  of  High  Meadow,  Esq. 

The  Trinder  family  of  Burton-on-the-Water  was  Catholic. 
Charles  Trinder,  serjeant-at-law,  was  made  recorder  of 
Gloucester,  8th  January,  1687,  O.S.  We  have  met  as 
chaplains  there,  F.  Placid  Nelson,  who  left  in  1717i  and 
F.  Bennet  Bigmaiden,  both  Benedictines. 

The  Theyers,  of  Cowper's  Hill,  became  Catholic  about 
1643.    John  Thever,  Esq.,  died  there,  25th  August,  1673. 

A  branch  of  the  Berkleys  was  settled  at  Beverston,  in 
Gloucestershire.  Jane,  daughter  of  Sir  Bichard  Berkeley, 
Knt.,  taking  the  religious  habit  of  St.  Benedict,  was  very 
instruments!  in  the  establishment  of  the  first  English  nunnery 
abroad,  yiz.,  at  Brussels.  She  was  blest  as  its  first  abbess  on 
4th  November,  1599.  There  she  ended  her  pious  course  on 
2nd  August,  1616,  set.  sixty-one,  rel.  thirty-five  j  abbess 
seventeen  years.  This  invaluable  community  has  been 
happily  located  in  Winchester  since  the  first  IVench  Bevo* 
lution. 

Whilst  satisfactory  information  concerning  some  other 
Catholic  families, — ^the  Bartletts,  Brents,  Kemps,  Nevilles, 
&c.,  eludes  my  humble  researches,  still  it  rejoices  the  heart 
to  contemplate  the  growing  congregations  of  the  faithful  in 
the  country, — ^to  witness  the  improved  style  and  enlarged 
scale  of  the  churches  and  chapels,  schools  and  missionary 
premises, — and  to  enumerate  the  splendid  acauisitions  of 
landed  property  by  Catholic  converts.  To  William  Leigh, 
Esq.,  the  purchaser  of  the  extensive  domain  of  Woodchester 
Park,  religion  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  his  generous 
protection  and  encouragement  of  practical  piety  by  his  purse 
and  by  his  example.  May  the  Giver  of  all  good  Gifts 
bless  him  and  his  saintly  family  with  health  and  all  desired 
prosperity!  When  I  lately  visited  that  monument  of  his 
piety,  the  noble  church  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Annunciation, 
and  said  Mass  in  the  exquisite  chantry  of  the  Forty  Martyrs, 
I  felt  indeed  for  the  sacrifice  that  God  had  recently  de- 
manded of  him  of  his  eldest  daughter  Caroline  Blanche,  She 
was  the  eflSgy  of  her  parents'  piety,  and  was  called  away  to 


128  CATHOLIC   FAMILIES   IN   OLOUCESTfiRSHIBE. 

receive  its  reward  on  IStli  September^  1852*    On  a  brass 
plate  was  engraved  the  following  inscription : — 

**  Hie  jacet  ad  dextram  latns  sub  ara  Quadraginta  Martyram 
Quod  mortale  habuit  Carolina  Blanche  Leign,  filia  dileeta  Gnlielmi 

Leigh  de  Woodchester  Park,  Armigeii  ;  et  Carolinee 
Uxoris  ejus.  Pie  obiit  xy  Sept.  Anno  Dnl.  mdccclii. 
^tatis  suae  vigeaimo  aecnndo :  cujus  animc  propitietur  Deus." 

And  this  lover  of  hospitality  and  patron  of  the  clergy^  after 
entertaining  with  the  most  affectionate  care  the  Most  Rev, 
Francis  Joseph  Nicholson,  archbishop  of  Corfu,  during  his 
long  illness  at  Woodchester,  where  he  expired  on  Monday 
night,  the  SOth  of  April,  1855,  provided  all  the  expenses  of 
his  grace's  funeral  in  the  church  of  the  Annunciation  10th 
of  May  following,  and  is  preparing  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  the  illustrious  departed  by  his  recumbent  statue  dressed 
in  his  pontificals,  on  an  elevated  altar-tomb,  to  be  surrounded 
with  brass  railings. 

The  worthy  Dominican  fathers  of  the  monastery  of  the 
Annunciation  at  Woodchester  gratefully  dedicated  their  first 
theses  of  philosophy  and  divinity,  defended  on  the  3rd  of 
August,  1855, — 

**  Optimo  ac  pnestantiBsimo  Viro 

Guhelmo  Leigh 

Ordinis  Sancti  Gregorii  Magni,  Eqnitiy  omatiasimo 

EcdesicB  hnjusce  Fandatori 

Coenobii  etiam  Beneuctori  munificentessimo 

Grati  Animi  ergo." 

May  they  long  be  enabled  to  compliment  their  generous 
patron,  and  proclaim  his  merits  and  increasing  honours. 


129 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HfBTORICAL     REPORT     OF     ALL     THE    RELIGIOUS     ESTABLISH  MENT8    IX 
THESE  SIX    WESTERN   COUNTIES   SINCE   THE   FRENCH    REVOLUTION. 

1.  Lanherne,  in  the  Deanery  of  Pydre,  ComwalL 

Here  was  the  seat  of  the  Arundells^  certainly  from  the  time 
of  King  Henry  III.,  and  the  manor  was  held  of  the  see  of 
Exeter  by  military  service. — (See  Bishop  Stapeldon's  Register^ 
folios  102,  115,  116,  A.D.  1315.)  To  Lady  Jane  de  Arundell, 
Bishop  Brantyngham,  on  14th  February,  1376,  granted  the 
license  of  having  divine  service  performed  in  the  chapel  or 
oratory  there. —  (See  p.  29  of  the  third  chapter.) 

The  English  Theresian  nuns  have,  by  God's  blessing,  been 
settled  here  since  August,  1794.  This  convent  was  founded 
at  Antwerp  on  1st  May,  1619,  by  Lady  Ann  Lovel.  The 
series  of  the  prioresses  of  this  community  from  the  beginning 
may  interest  the  reader. 

1.  Ann  Wbrsley,  who  continued  in  office  until  her  pious 
death  in  December,  1644.  During  her  government,  she  gave 
the  habit  to  fifty  ladies,  and  sent  a  filiation  of  her  religious 
to  Dusseldorf. 

2.  Ann  Wright  succeeded  early  in  1645,  but  died  two 
years  later,  aged  thirty-seven. 

3.  Theresa  Ward  died  in  the  second  year  of  her  govern- 
ment, having  first  established  a  colony  at  Lierre  in  1648, 
which  at  the  French  Revolution  removed  to  Auckland, 
St.  Helen's,  near  Durham. 

4.  Lucy  Bedingfeld, — She  died  of  the  small-pox  on  6th 
January,  1650,  aged  thirty-six.  Thus  in  five  years  the  com- 
munity sustained  the  loss  of  three  prioresses.  This  fourth 
was  one  of  many  sisters  who  devoted  themselves  to  God  in 
the  religious  state. 

5.  Ann  Keynes. — She  continued  in  office  nine  years,  and 
was  very  instrumental  in  founding  a  Carmelite  house  at 
Mnnsterfeld. 

6.  Ann  Har court  was  elected  in  1659,  and  governed  the  con- 
vent six  years.  Whilst  sub-prioress,  she  exerted  herself  most 
zealously  in  the  establishment  of  a  colony  at  Hoogstraet,**^ 

*  At  the  French  Revolution,  settled  at  Canford,  co.  Dorset. 

K 


130  HISTORICAL    REPORT   OF   THE 

and  was  elected  their  first  prioress;  but  she  died  three  weeks 
after,  viz.  11th  September,  1678. 

7.  Margaret  Wake  de  Angelia  was  elected  in  1665.  After 
presiding  for  six  years,  she  obtained  a  respite  from  supe- 
riority, but  in  1677  was  summoned  again  to  resume  office, 
which  she  held  until  her  death,  on  2l8t  June,  1678.  Her 
body  was  found  entire  and  flexible  on  13th  August,  1716, 
and  BO  continued  until  the  beginning  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, when  it  was  translated  from  the  conventual  church  to 
be  deposited  in  the  episcopal  vault  within  Antwerp  cathedral. 

8.  Mary  Wigmore  was  elected  in  1671,  and  remained  pri- 
oress for  six  years ;  re-elected  in  1687 ;  ob.  1697. 

9.  Frances  Turner  succeeded  in  1678,  filled  the  office  for 
six  years,  and  died  in  1693. 

10.  Mary  Sonias,  a  native  of  Antwerp,  supplied  the  office 
for  three  years. 

11.  Mary  Burton  was  elected  in  1687,  and  held  the  reins 
of  government  for  fifteen  years. 

12.  Mary  Birkbeck  was  elected  in  1702,  and,  according  to 
my  correspondent,  "  was  many  years  prioress  off  and  on.'' 

13.  Delphina  Smith,  who  did  not  survive  her  election  much 
more  than  a  twelvemonth. 

14.  Theresa  Bond  was  chosen  her  successor  in  1732,  and 
died  in  the  third  year  of  office. 

15.  Theresa  Howard  governed  the  community  for  fifteen 
years. 

16.  Mary  Howard,  elected  in  1750,  resigned  at  the  end  of 
thirteen  years. 

17.  Ann  Homes  succeeded  in  January,  1763,  and  died  in 
October,  1764. 

18.  Theresa  Mary  Howard  was  elected  in  1764,  and  died 
in  office  26th  July,  1775. 

19.  Frances  Maddocks  was  now  called  upon  to  assume  the 
reins  of  government  for  the  three  next  years,  and  was  re-elected 
on  the  death  of  her  successor  in  October,  1784.  Within 
twelve  years  later  she  was  forced,  with  her  twelve  nuns  and 
three  lay  sisters,  to  abandon  their  beloved  convent  on  29th 
June,  1794,  and  hurrying  from  French  rapacity  to  Rotter- 
dam, took  shipping  there,  and  reached  London  on  12th  July. 
In  the  ensuing  month  they  were  comfortably  settled  at  Lan- 
heme.  This  venerable  superior  laid  down  her  office,  which 
had  tried  her  constitution  severely,  in  1797,  and  on  19th 
January  was  called  to  receive  the  reward  of  her  meritorious 
life  in  the  sixty- ninth  year  of  her  age,  and  forty- seventh  of 
her  religious  profession. 


KBLI010U8    ESTABLISHMENTS.  181 

20.  Mary  Breni,  who  had  beea  elected  in  1778^  died  in 
office  18th  October,  1784. 

21.  Mary  Wright,  a  very  saperior  person^  succeeded  in 
1797,  and  continued  in  office  until  her  death,  11th  February, 
1814,  set.  sixty-one. 

22.  Mary  Charlotte  Stewart.  —  This  amiable  reverend 
mother  was  elected  in  1814,  and  after  presiding  for  six  years, 
was  re-elected  for  another  triennium  in  March,  1829.  Obiit 
9th  August,  1832. 

23.  Mary  Theresa  Tolozan  entered  upon  office  11th  March, 
1820,  and  filled  it  for  nine  years  successively ;  was  re-elected 
in  March,  1835,  but  resigned  about  five  years  later. 

24.  Mary  Magdalen  Done  was  elected  in  March,  1832. 

25.  Mary  Aloysia  Anion  was  elected  in  March,  1840,  and 
served  the  office  for  six  years. 

26.  Elizabeth  Theresa  DumbeU  governed  the  community 
for  three  years,  from  1849. 

27.  Mary  Joseph  Pegg  was  elected  3rd  March,  1849. 
N.B.  The  above  reverend  mother,  Elizabeth  Theresa  Dum« 

bell,  was  re-elected  3rd  March,  1852,  and  on  14th  March,  1855, 
for  another  triennium,  was  re-elected  Mary  Joseph  Pegg. 

2.  Clare  House,  Plymouth, 

The  English  Convent  of  Poor  Clares,  at  Gravelines,*  was 
the  mother  house  to  the  religious  establishments  of  the 
order,  first,  at  Aire,  in  1629 ;  secondly,  at  Rouen,  in  1644, 
and  at  Dunkirk,  in  1655. 

Some  of  the  ladies  who  commenced  the  house  at  Gra- 
velines  had  made  their  profession  in  the  Franciscan  Convent, 
called  Nazareth,  near  Veere,  in  Walcheren.  The  commu- 
nity had  flourished  there  for  nearly  a  century,  when  the 
rapid  successes  of  the  Huguenots  compelled  the  inmates  to 
quit  on  24th  April,  1572,  and  to  take  refuge  from  the 
advancing  enemy  in  Veere  itself.  On  11th  of  the  following 
month  they  had  to  endure  the  indescribable  affliction  of 
beholding,  from  the  town  walls,  the  conflagration  of  their 
beloved  monastery.     Leaving  Veere   on    17th    July,    they 

*  The  commanity  was  providentially  preserved  in  their  persons, 
though  not  in  their  buildings,  from  the  explosion  of  the  royal  magazines 
in  the  centre  of  the  town,  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  of  the  morning 
of  28th  May,  1654.  Bat  I  collect,  that  as  early  as  3rd  November,  1626, 
the  convent  was  nearly  burnt  to  the  ground.  According  to  the  Thurloe 
State  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  306,  they  sustained  injury  in  July,  1668,  when 
the  town  was  besieged  and  taken  by  the  combined  forces  of  England 
and  France. 

K    2 


132  HISTORICAL    REPORT    OF   THB 

wandered  during  the  next  four  days  in  great  misery,  and 
perpetual  fear  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Huguenots;  but 
by  God's  blessing  safely  reached  the  city  of  Antwerp.  After 
nine  years'  residence  with  the  Poor  Clares  there,  the  growing 
ascendancy  of  the  Calvinists  in  the  town  compelled  them 
to  abandon  these  happy  cloisters;  and  on  20th  July,  1581, 
they  took  shipping  for  St.  Omer's.  In  this  city  they  expe- 
rienced every  charitable  attention  from  the  English  Jesuits, 
who  procured  for  them  quarters  in  the  "  Archers'  House," 
then  belonging  to  the  Government ;  and  at  the  expiration  of 
thirteen  years,  the  use  of  all  those  premises.  But  as  these 
were  found  inconvenient,  their  friends.  Count  de  Gournerall 
and  Edward  Gage,  of  Bentley,  Esq.,  especially,  aided  Mrs. 
Mary  Ward  to  obtain  an  eligible  site  in  Gravelines  for  a  new 
convent  in  1607.  With  the  approbation  of  the  bishop  of 
St.  Omer's,  sister  Mary  Stephana  Goudge,  with  four  religious, 
left  St.  Omer's  fur  Gravelines  on  7th  November,  1608,  to 
commence  this  new  house  of  Nazareth ;  and  on  3rd  of  May 
following,  all  the  community  was  installed  in  it,  and  Mary 
Stephana  Goudge  was  declared  its  first  abbess.  During 
the  five  years  of  her  superiority,  she  is  thus  described,  "  Non 
tam  imperio  praefuit,  quam  exemplo  profuit."  Ob.  23rd 
November,  1613,  set.  thirty-six. 

But  to  confine  our  attention  to  the  house  at  Aire,  in 
Artois,  which  was  founded  in  1629,  their  first  abbess  was, 

1.  Margaret  Radcliffe,  a  lady  of  great  experience  in 
spiritual  life.  She  held  her  rank  for  seven  years.  She  died 
26th  July,  1654,  aet.  seventy-two,  rel.  forty-four. 

2.  Catharine  Clare  Keynes  governed  the  house  for  eight 
years.  Ob.  20th  November,  1646,  set.  twenty-seven,  rel. 
thirty-four. 

3.  Frances  Golding  served  for  one  triennium.  She  sur- 
vived until  17th  October,  1658,  set.  thirty-nine,  rel.  nineteen. 

4.  Elizabeth  Eveling  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  was 
superioress.  Ob.  23rd  September,  1669,  set.  seventy-two, 
rel.  fifty. 

5.  Mary  Giffard  held  the  office  but  eight  months,  dying 
6th  September,  1670,  set.  forty-eight,  rel.  thirty-three. 

6.  Martha  Wilford  presided  for  eight  years.  Obiit  14th 
August,  1678,  set.  sixty-two,  rel.  thirty-nine. 

7.  Etheldred  Audry  Randolph  was  abbess  for  the  next 
twenty  years.  Ob.  24th  February,  1698,  set.  sixty-seven, 
rel.  thirty. 

8.  IVinefred  Orrell  succeeded;  but  died  8th  December, 
1702. 

9.  Margaret  Dodd  vias   permitted  to  resign  her  dignity 


RELIGIOUS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  133 

27th  April,   1719,    from  old  age  and  deafness.      She   died 
3rd  May,  1726,  »t.  eighty-five,  rel.  fifty  nine. 

10.  Jane  Metcalfe  for  the  next  twenty  years  continued  in 
office.  Ob.  26th  Pebraary,  1743,  set.  seventy-one,  rel.  fifty- 
one. 

11.  Magdalen  Clare  Hales  held  superiority  eight  years, 
and  died  7th  September,  1748,  set.  seventy-seven,  rel.  fifty- 
one. 

12.  Elizabeth  Tfieresa  Sykes  was  abbess  for  thirteen 
months  only,  when  she  was  hurried  to  the  tomb. 

13.  Jane  Pye  governed  the  house  for  six  years.  Ob. 
21st  April,  1756,  aet.  sixty-six,  rel.  forty-two. 

14.  Agnes  Warner  died  two  years  after  her  election,  viz. 
4th  July,  1 759,  aet.  forty -five,  rel.  nineteen. 

15.  Bridget  Clare  Blundell  supplied  the  next  triennium, 
and  died  2nd  February,  1763,  aet.  seventy-five,  rel.  forty- 
two. 

16.  Mary  Frances  Dickinson. — ^This  venerable  mother, 
after  presiding  for  twenty-one  years,  died  on  6th  January, 
1780,  aged  eighty-two,  rel.  sixty-two,  jubilariau  twelve. 

17.  Mary  Catherine  Hodgson,  elected  in  1780,  and  hers 
was  truly  a  painful  pre-eminence.  After  her  community 
]iad  lived  in  peace  and  comfort,  she  had  to  experience  the 
desolating  hurricane  of  the  French  Revolution.  They  were 
confined  and  guarded  as  prisoners  in  their  own  convent; 
their  confessor,  F.  Pacificus  Kingston,  was  torn  from  them, 
and  thrown  into  a  dungeon  preparatory  to  his  execution, 
as  expected  the  next  morning;  this  would  have  taken 
place,  if  the  news  had  not  reached  Aire  the  night  before 
that  Robespierre  had  been  executed  on  28th  Jidy,  1794.'^ 
But  these  ladies  were  doomed  to  strict  confinement  for 
a  lengthened  period,  and  were  denied  permission  to  pro- 
ceed  to  England  until  the  autumn  of  1799.  In  the  late 
Thomas  Weld,  of  Lullworth,  they  met  a  soothing  comforter 
and  generous  protector.     His  only  sister,  Mary  Euphrasia,t 

*  In  paffe  14  of  the  Directory  of  1796,  I  read,  **  Their  chaplain,  tlie 
Rev.  Mr.  Kington,  is  reported  to  have  been  guillotined  for  having  ven- 
tured to  exercise  his  spiritual  functions."  The  truth  is,  he  providentially 
escaped  the  fate  prepared  for  him,  as  I  have  heard  him  relate  the  story. 
More  of  him  in  the  Second  Part.  He  died  at  Osmundley,  corruptly 
called  Osmotherley,  co.  York,  18th  February,  1727,  a)t,  seventy-tm-ee, 
Ab  for  Robespierre,  the  following  epitaph  was  made  for  him : — 

*'  Passant,  ne  pleure  pas  son  sort ; 
Car,  s'il  vivait,  tu  serais  mort." 

t  This  venerable  lady  died  at  Clare  House,  Plymouth,  on  12th  March, 
1823^  aged  sixty-nine. 


134  HISTORICAL    REPORT    OF    THE 

who  had  long  been  a  religious  of  this  monastery,  was^  with 
her  community,  complimented  with  the  free  use  of  his  seat 
at  Britwell^  in  Oxfordshire;,  and  here  they  remained  until 
1813,  when  they  were  transferred  to  their  abode  at  Coxside, 
near  Plymouth,  which  they  denominated  Clare  House. 

On  4th  September,  1812,  obtaining  permission  to  resign 
her  office,  the  venerable  ex-abbess  quitted  Britwell  House 
with  her  sisters,  for  Plymouth,  and  died  at  Clare  House  on 
19th  November,  1818,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  and 
fifty-sixth  of  her  religious  profession. 

18.  Sutanrudi  Mills  was  elected  abbess  on  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  Reverend  Mother  Hodgson.  She  also  obtained 
permission  to  resign  her  dignity  on  2nd  July,  1818.  She 
died  on  8th  March,  1823. 

19.  Clare  Conyers,  who  had  been  professed  at  Aire,  on 
13th  September,  1770,  set.  twenty. one,  was  elected  abbess 
on  the  resignation  of  the  Reverend  Mother  Mills. 

20.  Mary  Lucy  Crump,  elected  abbess  5th  June,  1830, 
and  served  the  o£Sce  for  three  years.  Her  death  occurred  on 
11th  June,  1885,  aet.  forty-six. 

21.  Josephine  Simmons  was  elected  6th  May,  1833.  To 
the  regret  of  numerous  friends,  and  whilst  in  the  enjoyment 
of  many  comforts,  and  several  advantages,  this  abbess  de- 
termined to  quit  Clare  House  for  Gravelines.  Accordingly, 
with  her  community,  she  bade  adieu  to  Plymouth  on  28th 
May,  1834 ;  and  after  an  unusually  tedious  passage,  reached 
Oravelines  on  6th  June.  There  she  died  four  mouths  later, 
on  24th  October,  1834,  aet.  fifty-three,  rel.  twenty-four. 
The  community,  naturally  enough,  grew  very  dissatisfied 
with  their  new  quarters,  and  made  arrangements  with  the 
nuns  at  Soorton,  in  Yorkshire,  to  admit  them  into  their 
convent.  These  Poor  Clarists,  a  filiation  also  from  Gravelines 
monastery,  had  resided  at  Dunkirk  from  1655,  respected 
and  honoured,  for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  when  they 
were  driven  away  by  the  terrors  of  the  French  Revolution. 
In  May,  1794,  they  fortunately  found  a  refuge  at  Churchill 
Wood,  near  Worcester,  where  they  tarried  until  1807,  when 
they  removed  to  Scorton  aforesaid. 

In  conclusion  I  may  add,  that  during  the  residence  of  the 
worthy  community  at  Clare  House,  Plymouth,  eleven  of  their 
members  died;  also  two  Franciscan  Friars,  FP.  William 
Casemore  and  James  Summers,  were  buried  in  their  con- 
ventual cemetery.  It  may  also  be  proper  to  notice,  that  a 
few  children  of  their  gardener,  Mr.  Collins,  were  interred 
there  by  permission. 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  135 


3.  The  Lodge  at  Taunton, 

This  convent  is  of  the  third  order  of  St.  Francis  of  Assisium, 
— a  rule  originally  (1221)  intended  for  persons  of  either  sex, 
single  or  married,  who  desired  to  lead  a  life  of  particular 
devotion  and  penance  in  the  world.  Within  a  century  later, 
from  a  mere  confraternity,  it  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
religious  order  in  the  Church. 

I  compiled  the  history  of  this  English  convent  of  St. 
Elizabeth  for  '^  Dolman^s  Magazine,^'  and  refer  the  reader 
to  it  for  detailed  information.  Suffice  it  to  relate  here,  that 
two  English  widows,  Mrs.  Lucy  Sleford  and  Mrs.  Petronilla 
Kemp,  under  the  direction  of  P.  John  Gennings,  the  reviver 
of  the  English  Province  of  Friars  Minors,*  had  assumed  the 
habit  of  this  third  order  at  Brussels,  in  1619,  under  the 
firm  resolve  to  erect  a  monastery  of  this  order  for  the  English 
nation, — ^that  they  made  their  solemn  profession  29th  May, 
1620, — that  Isabella  Kemp  was  summoned  over  to  England 
by  F.  William  Stanney,  and  returned  to  Brussels  with 
Mrs.  Wilcox  {olim  Greenbury),  the  widow  of  Bowland 
Wilcox,  a  silk-merchant,  and  citizen  of  London ;  and  shortly 
after,  she  was  sent  back  to  escort  six  young  ladies  from 
England;  amongst  whom  were  the  two  Misses  Hockley, 
whose  mother,  Dorothy,  was  niece  to  the  Venerable  Richard 
Whiting,  last  abbot  of  Glastonbury,  so  revengefully  and 
iniquitously  executed  by  Henry  VIII.  on  15th  November, 
1539. 

With  this  accession  of  numbers  and  means,  they  were 
enabled  to  purchase,  for  £750  sterling,  a  house  in  Brussels, 
in  a  street  called  "  Buckbuere  Straet,^'  and  on  9th  August, 
1621,  F.  Andrew  ^  Soto,  the  Commissary-General,  residing 
at  Brussels,  duly  sanctioned  this  establishment,  and,  ad 
interimj  deputed  Margaret  de  Castro,  a  nun  of  St.  James's 
Convent  at  Ghent,  and  Beatrix  Raminas,  of  Valenciennes, 
to  superintend.  This  arrangement  continued  until  the  year 
following,  when  two  English  sisters  of  the  convent  at 
Gravelines,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth  Radcliffe,  were  directed 
to  undertake  the  government  and  direction  of  this  interesting 
community.  These  excellent  ladies,  after  deeply  implanting 
the  spirit  of  their  seraphic  founder  in  the  hearts  of  their 
precious   charge,   returned  to   their   convent  at  Gravelines, 

*  Thb  venerable  patriarch,  the  restorer  and  first  provincial  of  his 
brethren,  died  in  St.  Bonaventnre's  Convent  at  Douay,  according  to  the 
inscribed  slab  in  its  diorch,  12th  November,  1660,  eet.  ninety ;  Miss. 
60,  Prof.  44. 


136  HISTORICAL   REPORT   OF   THE 

loaded  with  the  blessings  and  homage  of  the  grateful  chil- 
dren in  Jesus  Christ.  During  their  four  years'  stay  at  Brussels 
thirty-nine  had  taken  the  veil,  and  thirty-two  were  professed. 

The  community  was  now  enabled  to  choose  a  superior 
from  their  own  members,  and  their  election  fell  on  Catharine 
Prances  Wilcox  {oUm  Grreenbury,  above  mentioned),  about 
Michaelmas,  1626.  Everything  promised  well,  and  the 
numbers  increased;  yet  such  is  the  uncertainty  of  all 
earthly  affairs,  such  the  intermixture  of  prosperity  and  tribu- 
lation in  human  life,  that  during  her  government  it  was 
deemed  indispensable  to  remove  their  residence  from  Brus- 
sels to  Nieuport,  near  Ostend.  This  measure  was  adopted  in 
1637,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  subsistence  in  so  dear  a 
place  as  Brussels^  and  the  confined  limits  there  of  their  con- 
ventual premises.  Yet  what  they  gained  for  the  next  quarter 
of  a  century  in  cheapness  and  room,  they  lost  in  the  unwhole- 
someness  of  the  climate.  No  less  than  thirty -seven  of  the 
community  fell  victims  to  its  influence.  Add  to  this,  in 
consequence  of  the  troublesome  times  in  England,  their 
resources  from  that  quarter  sensibly  diminished ;  and  then 
the  wars  between  Spain  and  France  added  greatly  to  their 
anxieties  and  miseries.  But  that  loving  providence  of  God, 
who  permits  all  the  trials  of  His  servants  (as  St.  Paul  so 
beautifully  sets  it  forth  in  his  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews)  for 
their  greater  good,  and  has  pledged  Himself  never  to  leave 
and  abandon  them,  now  visibly  appeared  in  their  rescue. 
At  the  restoration  of  monarchy  in  England,  their  hopes 
revived ;  friends  and  benefactors  generously  came  forward,* 
and  purchased  for  them  the  large  antiquated  palace  once 
inhabited  by  the  dukes  of  Burgundy,  and  in  which  Philip  I. 
of  Spain  was  bom.  It  was  called  Princenhoff,  in  the  city 
of  Bruges. 

On  13th  June,  1662,  the  vicaress,  the  Kev.  Mother 
Eyston,  was  sent  to  Bruges  with  eleven  nuns,  and,  pro  tem- 
pore, took  up  their  lodgings  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Ford,  an 
English  merchant,  James-street.  In  November  the  Rev. 
Mother  Abbess  Brenkurst  joined  them  with  the  rest  of  the 
community ;  and  on  Ist  March,  all  repairs  being  completed, 
they  joyfully  entered  the  very  capacious  and  convenient  monas- 
tery of  Princenhoff.  Their  church  of  our  Blessed  Lady  of 
Dolors  was  solemnly  blessed  and  dedicated  by  the  bishop  of 
Bruges  on  18th  May,  1661.  Here  the  convent,  with  the  excel- 

•  Amongst  them  we  may  specify  Henry,  duke  of  Norfolk  :  the  Oneate 
family  ;  Henry,  earl  of  Dover,  who  gave  them  £500  and  the  beautiful 
nlate  of  his  private  chapel ;  the  Ravenscroft  family,  &c.  Lady  Mary 
fenyham  (ofim  Engl efi eld)  gave  them  the  Remonstrance. 


RELIGIOUS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  187 

lent  school  for  a  limited  number  of  young  ladies^  continued 
to  flourish,  with  God's  blessing,  for  more  than  130  years, 
%vhen  the  successes  of  the  French  arms  and  the  advance  of 
the  revolutionary  troops  compelled  them,  on  15th  June, 
1794,  to  bid  adieu  to  their  peaceful,  happy  abode,  and  look 
for  safety  in  old  England. 

But  we  will  briefly  supply  the  list  of  abbesses.  Consider- 
ing that  the  elections  are  triennial,  and  that  the  nuns  are  at 
liberty  to  re-elect  the  old,  or  substitute  a  new  superior,  it  is 
pleasing  to  observe  how  few  changes,  comparatively,  have 
taken  place  within  the  last  230  years.  I  may  alsct  add, 
that  this  community  dates  its  commencement  from  the  date 
of  the  profession  of  Mrs.  Wilcox  and  her  six  companions, 
viz.,  10th  August,  1621. 

The  first  abbess,  Catharine  Frances  Wilcox,  elected  in 
1626,  governed  the  house  with  deserved  commendation.  In 
the  eleventh  year  of  her  presidency  (1637)  she  had  to  remove 
with  her  charge  to  Nieuport.  Resigning  her  dignity  in 
November,  1640,  she  meekly  departed  to  our  Lord  on  17th 
February,  1642,  set.  forty-seven. 

2.  Margaret  Clare  West  succeeded,  and  died  in  office  in 
1653,  set.  fifty-two. 

3.  Barbara  Paul  Perkins  presided  from  the  last-mentioned 
year  until  her  happy  death  in  October,  1661,  set.  fifky-one. 
And  thus  the  three  first  abbesses  were,  in  great  measure,  early 
victims  to  the  insalubrious  atmosphere  of  Nieuport. 

4.  Susan  Gabriel  Brinkhurst  was  unanimously  elected 
abbess  late  in  1661.  Soon  after  her  appointment,  the  trans- 
migration took  place  to  Bruges.  During  her  lengthened 
term  of  government,  she  endeared  herself  to  her  subjects  by 
her  patience  and  courage  under  every  difficulty.  The  vene- 
rable lady  resigned  her  office  in  1694,  and  died  at  Princenhoff 
in  the  following  February,  set.  seventy-four. 

5.  Elizabeth  Mary  Walton  was  elected  in  1674,  but  after 
a  short  illness,  two  years  later,  was  summoned  to  a  better 
world,  and  her  predecessor  was  re-elected  to  the  office. 

6.  Mary  Magdalen  Smith,  on  the  retirement  of  the  fourth 
abbess  in  1694,  succeeded ;  and  at  the  end  of  a  triennium, 
obiit  1713. 

7.  Henrietta  Maria  Moore,  a  very  accomplished  and 
talented  religious,  served  the  office  for  the  next  three  years. 
Obiit  1704. 

8.  Margaret  Clare  Roper,  distinguished  by  birth  and 
abilities ;  she  governed  the  house  with  admirable  discretion 
for  nineteen  years,  and  died  in  office  in  1719,  set.  sixty-four. 

9.  Alethea  Helen  Metham, — After  nine  years  of  superiority, 


138  BISTO&ICAL    REPORT    OF    THE 

she  prevailed  on  her  children  to  release  her  from  her  charge, 
in  consideration  of  her  precarious  health,  in  1728.  She 
survived  two  years  after  her  retirement. 

10.  Frances  Theresa  Hill  was  elected  abbess  at  the  age  of 
8is.ty-two;  but  she  was  wonderfully  vigorous  in  mind  and 
body.  At  the  age  of  eighty  she  could  hardly  obtain  her 
provincial's  consent  to  retire  from  active  duty.  This  vene- 
rable lady  survived  till  1st  May,  1757,  set.  ninety-two,  rel. 
seventy-two,  jub.  twelve. 

11.  Mary  Ignatia  Lawson  was  judged  the  fittest  person  to 
succeed  the  Abbess  Hill  in  the  eventful  year  of  1745,  and 
held  the  reins  of  government  for  thirty-seven  years,  when 
she  was  reluctantly  permitted  to  resign  her  dignity  j  and 
gently  slept  in  our  Lord  on  the  eve  of  Holy  Innocents,  1783, 
aged  seventy-two,  rel.  fifty-five. 

12.  Mary  Gertrude  Simeon  Weld,  the  only  child  of 
Thomas  Simeon  Weld,  of  Aston  Hall,  Staffordshire,  Esq., 
and  Mary  Fitzherbert  his  wife,  who  had  been  great  benefac- 
tors to  the  convent,''^  was  the  very  image  of  their  piety  and 
goodness.  In  her  seventeenth  year  she  consecrated  herself 
to  God;  in  due  time  she  was  appointed  vicaress,  in  1774,  and 
in  1779  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  scholars,  winning  the 
hearts  of  all  under  her  charge.  In  October,  1782,  she  was 
called  to  fill  the  office  of  abbess.  The  growing  discontents 
in  the  Low  Countries,  the  progress  of  revolutionary  princi- 
ples, and  the  subsequent  successes  of  the  French  armies, 
excited  her  acute  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  her  dear  com- 
munity, and  demanded  the  exercise  of  all  her  energies. 
Though  it  must  have  gone  to  her  heart  to  think  of  bidding  a 
final  adieu  to  their  charming  convent,  where  lay  the  remains 
of  her  honoured  parents,  she  clearly  foresaw  the  sacrifice 
must  be  made ;  but  she  meekly  bowed  to  the  holy  will  of 
her  Ood,  and  her  self-possession  and  tranquillity  of  soul 
kept  alive  the  courage  and  confidence  of  her  attached  sub- 
jects. On  Trinity  Sunday,  15th  June,  1794,  after  an  early 
Mass  and  Communion,  and  their  last  looks  of  their  sweet 
convent  taken,  they  proceeded  to  Delft,  waiting  there  for  a 
passage  to  England.  On  7th  August  they  reached  Green- 
wich.     Her  cousin-german,  Thomas  Weld,   of  LuUworth, 

*  The  father  died  at  BruBsels  in  1764,  but  his  remains  were  brought 
to  PrincenhofF  for  interment.  Ilis  widowed  lady,  who  had  been  educated 
there,  now  petitioned  to  be  received  as  a  novice,  and  after  a  twelve- 
month's probation  made  her  religious  vows.  Almighty  God  accepted 
her  self-sacrifice,  and  in  October,  17C0,  called  her  up  to  receive  her 
retribution  in  her  forty-ninth  year,  leaving  the  legacy  of  the  best 
example  to  this  edifying  community. 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  189 

Esq.^  came  forward  as  a  protector  and  fiE^her.  Already  he 
had  secured  the  Abbey  House  iu  Winchester  for  their  recep- 
tion.  About  the  middle  of  August^  the  mother  abbess^  and 
a  few  of  her  thirty-five  subjects,  were  enabled  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  premises^  and  by  the  28th^  all  had  been  collected 
together,  besides  three  French  nuns,  O.S.A.,  to  whom  this 
charitable  abbess  had  afforded  hospitality  during  the  reign 
of  terror.  But  here  another  tribulation  awaited  her.  The 
very  first  person  she  professed  at  Winchester,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  her  generous  kinsman  and  benefactor,  Mr.  Weld, 
Juliana  Frances  de  Sales  Weld,  a  most  promising  and  edify- 
ing religious,  was  called  away  to  her  eternal  recompense 
on  27th  October,  1800,  aet.  twenty-seven,  rel.  eight.  She 
shortly  survived  this  severe  trial,  and  died  on  12th  May 
following,  set.  sixty-four. 

18.  Jane  Frances  de  Chantal  Hawse,  whom  to  know  was 
to  venerate,  was  unanimously  elected  to  supply  the  loss  of 
the  late  beloved  abbess. 

Within  very  few  years  after  her  appointment,  it  was  found 
indispensable  either  to  build  considerably,  or  to  remove 
elsewhere.  The  latter  was  resolved  on.  Their  friends  were 
on  the  look-out^  and  recommended  at  last  the  site  intended 
for  a  general  hospital,  near  Taunton,  the  foundation-stone  of 
which  had  been  laid,  on  a  gentle  and  healthy  eminence,  by 
Lord  North,  29th  September,  1772.  After  covering  in  the 
buildings,  the  design,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  funds, 
was  laid  aside,  and  the  premises  were  sold  to  defray  ex- 
penses, and  purchased  by  the  Cole  family,  who  called  it 
the  Lodge.  With  this  family  a  satisfactory  bargain  was 
concluded  in  May,  1807.  All  friends  agreed  that  a  more 
eligible  situation  could  not  be  desired  for  convenience,  for 
health,  for  the  respectability  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the 
superiority  of  the  markets.  The  abbess,  with  a  colony  of 
nuns,  and  the  young  ladies  of  the  school,  were  the  first 
arrivals  at  the  Lodge;  the  remainder  by  2nd  June,  1808, 
were  all  safely  and  happily  reunited  in  this  very  cheerful 
and  roomy  mansion.  They  were  thirty-five  in  community 
when  they  quitted  Winchester. 

This  reverend  mother  had  cause  to  rejoice  in  this  change 
of  locality,  and  the  progressive  prosperity  of  her  establish- 
ment, the  visible  benediction  of  Heaven  resting  upon  it. 
Having  now  presided  for  thirty  years,  she  obtained  permis- 
sion to  resign.  Seven  years  later  she  resigned  her  precious 
soul  into  the  hands  of  her  Creator  on  11th  October,  1888, 
aet.  eighty-six,  rel.  sixty-nine.* 

•  See  Appendix  No.  VI. 


140  HISTORICAL    REPORT   OP    THE 

14.  Winefred  llieresa  Berington,  elder  sister  to  the  prioress 
of  Spetisburg,  bom  26th  October,  1773,  was  elected  in  1831. 
After  gaining  all  hearts  by  her  gentle  virtues,  at  the  end  of 
sixteen  years'  faithful  administration  she  was  permitted  to 
resign  her  dignity,  but  continued  to  benefit  the  community 
by  her  wisdom  and  luminous  example  until  her  happy  death 
on  27th  January,  1856,  at.  eighty-two,  rel.  sixty-five. 

15.  Frances  Agnes  Jemingham,  daughter  of  William  Jer- 
niugham,  Esq.,  who  took  the  religious  habit  in  1828,  and 
made  her  profession  a  twelvemonth  later,  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  foundation  of  the  convent  (10th  August),  was  elected 
abbess  on  4th  May,  1847,  and  does  honour  to  her  station. 

4.  Canford, 

This  Carmelite  community  was  settled  for  thirty  years  at 
Canford  House,  near  Poole,  in  Dorsetshire.  It  was  originally 
a  filiation  from  the  Theresians  of  Antwerp  (see  p.  129),  and 
was  founded  at  Hoogstraet  on  18th  August,  1678,  under 
tlic  title  of  "  Domus  B.  Teresia  k  Jesu,''  by  the  Lady  Gabriel 
de  la  Laing,  bom  Countess  of  Hoogstraet  and  Benenbourg, 
widow  of  Charles  Florentine  Wild  Rheingrave,  count  of 
Salm,  &c.,  Lieutenant-General  of  the  infantry  of  the  United 
Provinces,  and  Governor  of  Breda.  There  these  holy  recluses 
flourished  in  peace  and  comfort  until  the  French  anarchists 
lighted  up  the  torch  of  war,  and  spread  consternation  and 
panic  around  them.  Quitting  their  happy  home  on  7th  July, 
1794,  they  readied  England  on  the  13th,  and  took  up  their 
residence  at  Friars-place,  Acton,  until  December,  when  Sir 
John  Webb  and  his  only  daughter  and  heiress,  Lady  Barbara, 
fifth  countess  of  Shaftesbury,  afforded  them  a  much  better 
asylum  at  Canford  House.  I  proceed  to  ofier  the  succesi^ 
sion  of  the  prioresses. 

1.  Ann  Harcourt,  who  held  office  but  for  three  weeks, 
dying  on  11th  September,  1678. 

2.  Aloysia  Wright  succeeded  for  the  next  three  years.  She 
died  in  1694,  aet.  fifty-seven. 

3.  Theresa  IVakeman,  after  presiding  for  six  years,  re« 
turned  to  the  mother  house  at  Antwerp,  whence  she  passed 
to  eternity. 

4.  Mary  Howard,  elected  20th  September,  1687,  and 
served  a  triennium.     Ob.  8th  April,  1728. 

6.  Margaret  Burlan  was  prioress  for  six  years  successively ; 
after  an  interval  of  another  six  years  she  was  re-elected 
prioress,  and  died  in  office  an.  1713. 

6.  Mary  Theresa  Rheingrave,  daughter  of  the  pious  foun« 


RELIOIOUS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  141 

dress.  She  took  the  habit  15th  October,  1679,  and  was 
professed  in  the  following  year.  On  22nd  September,  1696, 
she  was  elected  prioress,  and  governed  the  house  for  six  years. 
On  the  death  of  Prioress  Burlan  she  was  reinstated,  and  died 
in  office  6th  February,  1715,  set.  fifty-four. 

7.  Theresa  Stepney  succeeded  in  1715,  and  filled  the  place 
of  superioress  for  three  years. 

8.  Seraphina  Busby  followed  in  1722,  and  remained  in 
office  for  a  triennium. 

9.  Agnes  Frances  Burton,  formerly  prioress  of  Lierre  con- 
vent, was  elected  in  1725. 

10.  Mary  Burnett  was  the  next  superioress,  but  died  within 
a  twelvemonth. 

11.  Mary  York,  who  died  in  office  2l8t  September,  1742. 

12.  Isabella  Burnett,  after  presiding  for  fourteen  years, 
died  also  in  office  in  1756. 

13.  Mary  Ann  Hunter  was  elected  28th  July,  1756,  and 
held  her  rank  until  her  happy  death  25th  April,  1765. 

14.  Mary  Parkinson,  elected  28rd  May,  1765,  died 
prioress,  on  Lady-day,  1774. 

15.  Bemardine  Theresa  Matthews,  elected  13th  April, 
1774.  After  governing  her  house  for  sixteen  years  with 
much  commendation,  with  episcopal  sanction  she  departed 
with  two  other  members  to  establish  a  Carmelite  nunnery  in 
Maryland,  on  19th  April,  ^790.  There  she  died  12th  June, 
1800,  aet.  sixty-seven. 

.16.  Ann  Hill,  elected  24th  April,  1790,  had  to  expe- 
rience the  miseries  of  emigration  from  her  convent.  She 
ended  her.  days  at  Canford  House  on  29th  October,  1813, 
«t.  seventy-nine,  rel.  fifty-nine. 

17.  Mary  Errington  (in  religion,  Magdalen  of  St.  Theresa) 
was  elected  at  Canford  on  2nd  February,  1795,  and  con- 
tinued her  superiority  until  her  lamented  death  on  14th 
December,  1810,  aet.  sixty-two,  rel.  forty-six. 

18.  Mary  Oswaldine  Errington  succeeded  14th  January, 
1811,  and  died  in  office  on  9th  May,  1813,  aet.  seventy-one, 
rel.  fifty-three. 

19.  Mary  Jessop,  elected  13th  May,  1813. 

20.  Mary  Theresa  Duck. — Lady  Barbara  (the  only  child 
of  Anthony  Ashley,  fifth  earl  of  Shaftesbury,  by  his  wife 
Barbara,^  olim  Webb),  having  married  the  Hon.  William 
Francis  Spenser  Ponsonby  on  5th  August,  1814,  created  Lord 
De  Mauley,  and  they  requiring  ten  years  to  take  possession  of 

*  The  earl  died  in  1811,  and  allowed  his  Catholic  wife  to  retain 
her  private  chaplain  at  St.  Giles's,  Dorset.  Her  ladyship  lived  till 
5th  Octoher,  1816.    Lady  De  Mauley  died  on  5th  June,  1844. 


142  HISTORICAL    REPORT   OF   THB 

Canford  House^  the  nuns  had  to  provide  for  themselves  another 
residence.  Under  the  direction  of  their  excellent  friend  and 
chaplain,  TAbbe  Mar^t,  they  quitted  Canford  in  September, 
1825,  and  sailing  on  14th,  arrived  on  24th  at  Torigni,  on  the 
opposite  coast  of  France,  between  Cherbourg  and  Coutance. 
After  full  five  years'  settlement  there,  they  moved  to  a 
more  convenient  seat  at  Valognes  in  September,  1830,  where 
I  hope  they  proceed  prosperously.     Quod  fount  Deus ! 

5.  Cannington, 

The  Benedictine  Dames  of  Paris,  in  the  Champ  de 
I'Alouette  (Lark  Field),  were  a  filiation  from  that  English 
convent  at  Cambray,  founded  in  December,  1623,  and  which 
was  also  a  colony  from  the  mother  house  at  Brussels,  the 
first  of  all  our  continental  nunneries,  for  it  dates  its  origin 
from  the  year  1587. 

From  the  chapter  archives  and  other  documents  I  will 
condense  my  historical  synopsis  of  this  interesting  convent 
at  Paris. 

In  consequence  of  the  failure  of  both  interest  and  prin- 
cipal of  considerable  funds  during  the  civil  wars  in  England, 
and  likewise  the  impoverished  state  of  our  English  Catholic 
families  during  that  calamitous  epoch  of  persecution,  the 
monastery  at  Cambray  was  reduced  to  such  extremity,  that 
the  very  rev.  president  of  the  English  Benedictines,  F.  Placid 
Oascoigne,  decided  on  drafting  off  several,  and  placing  them 
at  Paris.  With  this  view,  he  selected  Dame  dementia 
Cary,  and  her  sister  Mary,  with  a  lay  sister,  as  harbingers, 
to  begin  with.  Accompanied  by  the  Rev.  P.  Serenus 
Cressy,  O.S.B.,  they  were  lodged  at  the  convent  of  the 
Austin  Nuns  on  their  arrival  at  Paris,  Their  first  appeal  was 
to  Henrietta  Maria,  the  queen-mother  of  King  Charles  II., 
who  had  been  well  acquainted  formerly  with  Dame  Clementia 
Cary  at  the  English  court.  This  lady  and  her  sister  Mary 
could  not  be  the  dattghters  "  of  the  great  and  gallant 
Lord  Viscount  Falkland,  so  celebrated  for  his  life  and  his 
death  in  the  time  of  Charies  1.'^  (as  Dr.  Milner  asserted  in 
the  Directory  of  1796,  p.  10),  but  hi*  sisters.^  The  kind 
reception  they  met  with  from  her  majesty  and   suite,  and 

•  Their  father,  Henry  Cary,  was  created  Lord  Falkland  10th  Novem- 
ber, 1620,  and  within  two  years  was  made  Yicerov  of  Ireland.  He  died 
in  September,  1633,  leaving  a  son,  Lucius,  who  tell  in  tlie  first  battle 
of  Newbery,  20th  September,  1643,  set.  thirty- four.  —  The  queen- 
dowager  awve  mentioned  was  privately  married  to  Henry  Jermyn^  earl 
of  St.  Alban's,  and  died  at  St.  Colombia  10th  August,  1669. 


RKLIOIOUS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  143 

from  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  the  French  court,  encouraged 
the  said  F.  President  to  send  from  Cambray  four  other  choir 
nuns  and  a  lay  sister;  viz.  Dame  Bridget  Moore,  Dame 
Elizabeth  Brent,  Dame  Justina  Gascoigne,  Dame  Marina 
Appleton,  and  sister  Gertrude  Hodgson.  All  went  into  a 
hired  house  prepared  for  them  on  20th  February,  1652,  and 
Dame  Bridget  Moore  was  appointed  superioress ;  for  Mother 
dementia  Gary  could  never  be  prevailed  upon,  from  her 
extraordinary  humility,  to  accept  any  office  of  distinction. 

''We  continued  in  hired  houses,^'  says  a  correspondent, 
''until  12th  March,  1664,  when  a  gentleman  (Monsieur  de 
Touche)  waited  upon  us,  and  conducted  in  a  coach  Mother 
Clementia,  and  some  of  the  community,  to  have  our  opinion 
of  another  residence  that  he  had  been  looking  out  for  us. 
On  our  arrival  we  were  wonderfully  surprised  at  meeting 
several  of  our  friends  there,  with  lawyers,  notaries,  architects, 
and  masons.  We  could  not  but  express  how  pleased  we 
were  with  the  house  and  its  situation,  when  the  gentleman 
aforesaid  led  us  into  a  private  room,  and  thus  addressed  us : 
'  My  reverend  mother,  it  is  not  without  mystery  that  I  made 
a  particular  choice  of  this  day,  the  festival  of  St.  Gregory 
the  Great,  by  whose  means  the  whole  English  nation  was 
converted  through  the  preaching  of  St.  Augustine,  of  the 
holy  order  of  St.  Bennet.  So  I,  though  unworthy,  am 
desirous  on  this  day  to  be  instrumental  in  beginning  a 
monastery  of.  the  same  holy  order  and  nation,  trusting  it 
will  prove  a  work  much  to  the  honour  and  glory  of  God ; 
and  that  this  place  of  solitude  may  become  a  dwelling  for 
many  souls,  and  true  spouses  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  will  seek 
and  aspire  after  nothing  but  Him.'  We  returned  home 
transported  with  joy,  blessing  and  praising  God  for  His 
infinite  goodness  and  providence  towards  us.  This  happening 
on  St.  Gregory's  day,  much  increased  our  devotion  to  this 
glorious  saint ;  and,  conformably  to  the  offering  we  make  of 
ourselves,  immediately  after  pronouncing  our  solemn  vows, 
we  add, — 

" '  I,  Sister  N.  N.,  do  further,  according  to  the  vocation 
and  holy  institute  of  this  convent,  offer  myself  and  all  my 
actions  for  the  conversion  of  England,  &c.,  for  which  this 
monastery  was  particularly  instituted.'  " 

Into  their  new  residence  the  whole  community  was  enabled 
to  remove  on  2nd  April,  1664,  and  it  proved  to  them  a  terres- 
trial paradise  for  nearly  130  years,  when  they  had  to  pass 
through  the  ordeal  of  persecution. 

Before  their  arrestation  on  3rd  October,  1793,  they  had  to 
suffer  occasionally  from  the  domiciliary  visits  of  the  French 


144  HISTORICAL    REPORT    OF    THE 

democrats^  and  others ;  but  they  still  enjoyed  the  consolation 
of  remaining  alone  within  their  own  walls^  and  pursuing 
their  routine  of  religious  exercises.  In  the  beginning  of 
December  their  confessor  was  taken  from  them^  and  their 
convent  was  filled  with  prisoners  of  all  classes.  This  sadly 
incommoded  them;  and  their  feelings  were  acutely  pained  at 
witnessing  several  of  these  victims  led  off  to  the  guillotine^ 
not  knowing  if  their  turn  would  be  next,  and  suffering 
much  during  their  confinement  from  cold,  and  hunger,  and 
destitution  of  every  comfort.  On  15th  July,  179  if,  they 
received  their  last  domestic  search,  which  lasted  from  late 
that  evening  until  the  following  afternoon,  and  then  at  night 
hU  were  consigned  to  a  dark  dungeon,  which  their  jailers  had 
prepared  for  refractory  prisoners.  Here  they  waited  until 
the  coaches  were  ready  to  convey  them  to  the  Castle  of 
Vincennes,  about  three  leagues  distant  from  Paris.  They 
arrived  at  their  destination  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  had  then  to  mount  to  their  apartments,  which  were  four 
rooms  at  the  top  of  the  tower.  In  these  dreary  quarters, 
where  they  had  very  little  light,  they  tasted  what  real 
poverty  was;  and  what  added  to  their  distress  was  the 
alarming  illness  of  their  reverend  mother.  It  was  generally 
believed  that  they  were  marked  victims  of  death;  indeed, 
they  fully  expected  this  would  be  the  case ;  but  the  death  of 
Robespierre,  on  28th  July,  1794,  prevented  this  consumma- 
tion. Still,  their  miserable  confinement  here  lasted  until 
7th  August,  when  they  were  carted  off  to  the  convent  of 
the  English  Austin  Dames  in  the  Fosse  St.  Victor.  Those 
good  ladies  received  them  most  cordially.  They  were  to  be 
allowed  three  livres  per  day  for  each.  Here,  comparatively, 
they  were  at  ease ;  and  by  management  every  member  of  the 
community  experienced  the  happiness  of  confession  and 
communion,  of  which  they  had  been  bereaved  since  1st 
December,  1793.  This  return  of  spiritual  consolation  was 
effected  on  17th  January,  1795.  At  last  permission  was 
obtained  to  have  Mass  celebrated.  The  Austin  Nuns 
immediately  prepared  an  altar  in  their  infirmary,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  chaplain  to  the  Conceptionists,  or 
Blue  Nuns  of  Paris  (who  were  likewise  confined  with  them), 
said  this  first  Mass,  at  which  all  three  English  communities 
assisted  with  inexpressible  joy,  reciting  the  "  Veni  Creator  " 
and  "  Te  Deum.'' 

The  narrative  proceeds :  "  Our  bodily  sustenance  became 
very  sparing, — a  pound  of  meat  once  in  ten  days,  very  little 
bread,  and  sometimes  an  egg.  Salad  was  the  only  thing  we 
could  procure,   of  which  we   partook  twice  a   day.*'     The 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  145 

prioress^  seeing  her  community  i^asting  away^  after  due 
consultation^  applied  for  passports  to  return  to  England^ 
which,  by  great  interest,  and  after  much  hesitation  and 
delay,  were  finally  granted.  The  first  division  left  Paris  on 
19th  June,  1795.  All  landed  safe  at  Dover  on  3rd  July, 
and  recognized  a  kind  benefactress  in  Mrs.  TunstaU,  who 
had  prepared  a  house  in  London  for  their  reception.  They 
lost  no  time  in  obtaining  leave  to  keep  the  blessed  Sacrament 
in  this  house,  and  then  resumed  their  choir  duties,  rising  to 
Matins  at  four  a.m.,  which  they  had  been  unable  to  do  from 
24th  November,  1793,  till  the  9th  or  10th  July,  1795.  Here 
they  continued  for  fiilly  three  months.  Lady  Arundell,  whose 
tender  heart  had  wept  for  their  distresses,  in  the  mean 
while  was  arranging  for  their  reception,  Marnhull  House,'^ 
CO.  Dorset,  into  which  part  of  the  community  was  transferred 
on  30th  September,  and  soon  after  they  became  conventually 
settled.  Until  a  chaplain  could  be  procured,  in  the  person 
of  TAbb^  Pelletier,  they  were  obliged  to  attend  the  Sunday 
Mass  at  the  village  chapel ;  but  on  the  feast  of  the  Presenta- 
tion of  our  Lady,  the  community,  with  tears  of  joy,  and 
with  grateful  hearts  to  God,  resumed  their  religious  habit 
and  observances..  In  1807,  circumstances  rendering  it 
necessary  for  the  Hussey  family,  the  owners  of  Marnhull, 
to  resume  possession,  Charles  Lord  Clifford  generously 
afforded  them  an  asylum  in  Court  House,  Cannington.  This 
delightful  residence  had  special  charms  in  their  eyes,  as 
having  been  a  priory  of  Benedictine  Dames  before  the 
suppression  of  monasteries  in  England.  Here  they  flourished 
greatly,  and  edified  and  sanctified  the  vicinity;  here  they 
commenced  the  perpetual  adoration  of  the  blessed  sacrament 
on  2nd  February,  1829 ;  and  here  they  opened  a  large  and 
beautiM  chapel  on  7th  July,  1831.  To  the  regret  of*  the 
poor,  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  diocese,  they  left  Can- 
nington for  a  freehold  property  called  Mount  Pavilion,  now 
St.  Benedict,  co.  Stafford.  It  was  an  estate  of  fifty  acres, 
with. a  capital  mansion,  erected/ without  regard  to  expense, 

*  During  their  twelve  years'  residence  there^  a  credulous  magistrate,  of 
the  name  of  Frampton,  waited  upon  these  religious  ladies,  and  informed 
tliem  that  he  must  search  their  premises  for  Napoleon  Buonaparte,  who 
he  was  credibly  instructed  lay  concealed  there,^ — that  he  had  a  painful 
duty  to  perform, — ^that  resistance  was  unavailing,  as  he  had  abundant 
force  to  oack  him,  and  demanded  their  keys  and  aid.  to  apprehend  the 
king's  enemy.  The  search  was  rigorously  made,  but  proved  abortive. 
On  quitting,  the  prioress  assured  him  she  was  not  surprised  at  the 
result, — ^that  her  convent  at  Paris  had  been  as  strictly  searche4  for« 
William  Pitt  by  the  French  authorities,  and  with  similar  success ! 


146  HISTORICAL   REPORT  OF   THE 

by  Lord  Tarn  worth;  and  was  purchased  on  21st  March^ 
1835,  for  jE5y^30.  Into  this  charming  residence  the  com- 
munity removed  early  in  August,  1836. 

During  their  residence  at  Caunington,  nineteen  members 
were  buried. 

I  may  now  be  permitted  to  furnish  a  list  of  the  prioresses 
from  the  beginning. 

1.  Bridget  More,  a  descendant  in  a  direct  line  from  the 
immortal  Sir  Thomas  More.  She  was  elected  20th  February, 
1652;  after  governing  the  house  for  thirteen  and  a  hidf 
years^  she  was  released  from  superiority.  Ob.  12th  October, 
1692,  set.  eighty-three. 

2.  Juaiina  Gascoigne,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne, 
Bart.,^  that  venerable  confessor,  and  niece  to  the  president 
of  his  brethren,  F.  Placid  Gascoigne,  succeeded  6th  August, 
1665,  and  after  presiding  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  died  in 
office,  17th  May,  1690,  set.  sixty-seven. 

3.  Agnes  Temple,  elected  24'th  May,  1690,  and  for  twenty 
years  successively  held  the  reins  of  government.  In  August, 
1714,  she  was  re-elected,  and  served  eight  years  longer. 
Ob.  3rd  July,  1726. 

4.  Agatha  Gillebrand,  elected  6th  August,  1710,  and 
presided  for  four  years.     Ob.  10th  February,  1726. 

5.  Mary  Buckingham  succeeded  in  1722,  and  administered 
for  one  quadriennium.     Ob.  14th  March,  1732. 

6.  Christina  Witham  was  prioress  from  1726  to  1734. 
Ob.  3rd  September,  1740. 

7.  Mary  Benedict  Dolby  followed  for  four  years.  Ob. 
16th  April,  176-. 

8.  Mary  Ann  Woodman,  elected  6th  August,  1738 ;  and 
continued  superioress  for  twenty-eight  years.  Ob.  23rd  March, 
1780,  aet.  eighty-four. 

9.  Mary  Magdalen  Johnson,  elected  6th  August,  1766,  and 
died  in  office,  13th  June,  1784,  at.  fifty-nine. 

10.  Mary  Clare  Bond,  elected  14th  September,  1784. 
Ob.  22nd  November,  1789,  «t.  fifty-three. 

11.  Theresa  Joseph  Johnson,  elected  11th  January,  1790; 
whose  painful  pre-eminence  was  characterized  by  the  most 
exemplary  resignation  to  the  divine  pleasure,  and  by  the 
most  tender  charity  to  all  her  spiritual  children.  She  died 
in  ofiice  31st  August,  1807,  aet.  fifty-five. 

12.  Theresa  Catharine  McDonald,  elected  on  Michaelmas- 

•  He  survived  his  two  reverend  Benedictine  brothers,  Placid  and 
Michael,  and  closed  his  holy  life  at  Lambspring  Abbey  in  1686,  eet. 
ninety-three.  I  hope  to  see  engraved  his  beautiful  portrait  at  the 
chapel-house,  Cheltenham. 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  147 

day^  1807 ;  resigned  from  illness  within  two  years^  and  died 
29th  November,  1831. 

13.  Mary  Bernard  Frost,  elected  drd  September,  1809; 
died  in  office,  26th  April,  1813,  aet.  thirty-three. 

14.  Mary  Benedict  Hardwidge  succeeded.  Ob.  2nd  March, 
1823. 

15.  Mary  Clare  Knight,  elected  6th  May,  1818,  and 
under  whose  government  the  house  has  singularly  prospered. 
To  her  courtesy,  I  am  proud  to  acknowledge  myself  princi- 
pally indebted  for  the  substance  of  this  article. 

6.  Spetisbvry. 

This  monastery  of  Austin  Nuns  was  founded  at  Louvain, 
in  1609,  under  the  title  of  the  Conception  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  St.  Michael  and  St.  Monica.  At  the  suppres-^ 
sion  of  religious  houses  in  England,  Sister  Elizabeth 
Woodford,  a  professed  nun  of  the  Augustine  priory  at 
Dartford,^  in  Kent,  retired  abroad,  and  was  admitted  into 
St.  Ursula's  monastery,  of  the  same  order,  at  Louvain.  In 
process  of  time,  this  Flemish  community  received  several 
English  ladies,  whose  exemplary  fervour  and  religious  pru- 
dence won  for  them  the  general  esteem  and  confidence.  One 
of  them.  Sister  Margaret  Clement,  aunt  to  Dr.  Clement, 
dean  of  St.  Gudules,  Brussels,  grew  into  such  favour  as  to 
be  elected,  in  1569,  prioress  of  the  community,  then 
consisting  of  nearly  eighty  members.  This  circumstance 
induced  many  other  ladies  of  the  English  nation  to  conse- 
crate themselves  to  God  under  her  government.  It  was, 
indeed,  edifying  to  witness,  that  national  distinction  caused 
no  difference  in  their  mutual  charity ;  that  all  were  animated 
but  with  one  heart  and  one  soul ;  that  in  the  midst  of  holy 
poverty,  all  was  content,  peace,  and  happiness. 

At  the  expiration  of  thirty-eight  years,  the  Rev.  Mother 
Clement  was  permitted  to  resign  her  dignity  of  abbess,  and 
within  two  years  later,  the  increasing  wants  of  this  numerous 
community  called  for  a  division  of  the  members.  After 
much  deliberation,  it  was  agreed  to  establish  a  separate 
English  monastery  in  the  place.  With  the  aid  of  friends,  a 
respectable  residence  was  obtained,  into  which  the  reverend 

*  This  convent  of  St.  Margaret,  as  the  common  seal  showed,  was 
founded  by  King  Edward  III.  about  the  year  1855,  and  was  in  such 
repate,  accordinj^  to  Dugdale,  that  "  the  best  and  noblest  families  of  the 
country  sent  their  relatives  both  for  education  and  as  nuns."  Bridget, 
the  fourth  daughter  of  King  Edward  IV.,  took  the  veil  here.  Jane 
Vane,  or  Fane,  was  the  last  prioress,  and  was  granted  a  pension  of 
£66. 138.  4d.    Her  twenty-three  subjects  were  also  pensioned  off. 

L  2 


148  HISTORICAL   KEPORT  OF   THE 

and  venerable^  and  even  fcant^rf*  Mother,  Margaret  Clement^ 
Catherine  Allen,  niece  to  the  immortal  cardinal  of  that 
name,  Margaret  Garnet,  sister  to  F.  Henry  Garnet,  S.J.,  of 
happy  memory,  Elizabeth  Shirley,  Barbara  Wilford,  Mary 
Welsh,  and  Elizabeth  Dunsford,  were  enabled  to  remove  on 
10th  February,  1609.  Within  a  few  months  their  numbers 
were  increased  from  the  mother  house,  and  on  19th  November 
that  year  they  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  prioress, 
viz. : — 

1.  Mary  Wiseman.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
Wiseman,  of  Broadoak,  Essex,  by  Jane  Yaughan,  his  wife. 
She  died  in  ofSce  on  8th  July,  1633,  set.  sixty-three.  About 
four  years  before  her  death,  she  had  the  consolation  of 
settling,  on  14th  September,  1629,  a  filiation  of  nine  of  her 
subjects  at  Bruges,  under  Mother  Frances  Stanford.  This 
community  still  flourishes  there  in  all  its  integrity. 

2.  Mary  Magdalen  Throgmorton,  of  Coughton,  was  elected 
22nd  July,  1633.  A  splendid  Remonstrance  was  presented 
to  her  by  her  family  and  friends,  bearing  on  its  foot  this 
inscription : — 

*'£x  liberalitate  Amicomm  Margaritco  Ma^dalense  Thrngmorton, 
PriorisssB  per  20  annos  Monasterii  S.  Monicie,  Religiosarum  Anglarum 
Lovaniie,  Anno  16C0." 

Her  end  was  peace  on  26th  October,  1668,  rel.  fifty-six, 
aet.  seventy-eight. 

8.  Mary  Winded  Thimelby,  of  Imham,  succeeded.  Her 
death  occurred  3l8t  August,  1690,  ffit.  seventy-two,  rel. 
fifty-five. 

4.  Marina  Plawden,  of  a  family  fruitful  of  religious  of 
both  sexes.  After  twenty-five  years  of  superiority,  she  rested, 
in  our  Lord,  1st  November,  1715,  aet.  seventy-eight,  rel. 
sixty. 

5.  Mary  Delphina  Sheldon  was  the  next  prioress,  and  died 
in  office,  23rd  February,  1727,  aet.  sixty-six. 

6.  Mary  Genevieve  JVorthingtan  governed  the  house  for 
seven  years,  when  Grod  called  her  to  her  recompense  on 
20th  November,  1734. 

7.  Mary  Cecilia  More,  who  retained  her  dignity  until  her 
happy  death  on  the  feast  of  St.  George,  1755. 

8.  Mary  Aurelia  Crathome,  of  Ness,  co.  York,  professed 
12th  June,  1701,  was  elected  prioress  in  the  seventy-first 

^  *  Towards  the  decline  of  life  she  was  afflicted  with  blindness. 
Her  death  occurred  in  the  New  Convent,  26th  May,  1612  ;  Rel.  43. 
The  MS.  history  of  her  life  relates  that  she  had  received  a  superior 
education,  and  was  well  versed  in  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages. 


REXIGIOUS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  149 

year  of  her  age,  and  died  19th  April,  1762,  »t.  seventy- 
eight. 

9.  Marina  Smithy  elected  prioress  the  same  spring,  and  died 
in  office  20th  February,  17S4,  set.  eighty-two. 

10.  Mary  Benedict  Stonor  (sister  to  Frances,  who  married, 
first,  Thomas  Giflfbrd,  of  Chillington,  Esq. ;  second,  George 
Gary,  Esq.,  fourth  possessor  of  Tor  Abbey,  and  died  Ist 
August,  1808,  8Bt.  sixty-three)  was  professed  5th  May,  1755, 
and  elected  to  govern  her  house  in  critical  times.  Forced 
at  last  to  abandon  her  beloved  convent  with  her  dear  com- 
munity on  28th  June,  1794,  they  took  ship  at  Rotterdam  on 
5th  July,  and  on  the  17th  reached  Greenwich.  Bishop  Douglass 
found  them  an  asylum  in  Hammersmith  for  the  next  five 
months,  when  they  removed  into  the  abbey-house,  Amesbury, 
the  last  day  of  the  same  year ;  and  on  the  first  day  of  the 
new  one  resumed  their  choral  services.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  their  term  of  five  years  they  were  enabled  to  take 
possession  of  their  present  convenient  mansion-house  and 
premises  at  Spetisbury,  near  Blandford,  and  on  Christmas- 
day,  1799,  resumed  their  former  conventual  observances. 
This  venerable  prioress  resigned  her  office  two  years  before 
her  death,  which  took  place  amidst  the  regrets  of  her 
attached  sisters  on  13th  May,  1814,  set.  seventy-eight,  rel. 
fifty-eight. 

11.  Mary  Frances  Tancred  was  elected  prioress  14th  April, 
1812,  and  died  in  office  6th  October,  1818,  aet.  seventy-seven, 
rel.  fifty-four. 

12.  Aioysius  Joseph  Tuite  professed  at  Louvain  24th  Octo- 
ber, 1793,  being  then  twenty-one  years  old.  Her  merits 
occasioned  her  election ;  but  she  resigned  in  her  tenth  year 
of  office,  and  died  a  few  months  later,  on  10th  May,  1828 ; 
at.  fifty-six,  rel.  thirty-five. 

13.  Catherine  Berington  succeeded  11th  February,  1826; 
her  kind  attention  to  my  inquiries  and  researches  I  can 
never  forget.  Under  her  government  the  school  greatly 
prospered,  and  the  convenient  and  spacious  chapel  was  opened 
on  8th  September,  1830.  In  the  midst  of  a  most  useful  life, 
she  was  attacked  with  influenza  accompanied  with  inflamma- 
tion, and  was  carried  off  most  rapidly  on  the  night  of  the  6th 
February,  1848.  But  she  met  death  with  the  same  serenity 
as  she  had  ever  lived,  aet.  fifty-nine.     R.  I.  P. 

14.  Elizabeth  Poynter  (niece  to  the  truly  learned  and 
exemplary  Bishop  Poynter,  whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches) 
is  the  present  prioress,  and  promises  to  rival  all  the  merits 
of  her  worthy  predecessors.  Her  election  took  place  l7th 
February,  184«. 


150  HISTORICAL    REPORT   OF   THE 

7.  Stapehifl 

In  page  42  I  have  briefly  alluded  to  the  establishment 
here  of  the  Trappist  Nuns.  It  was  first  organized  in  the 
Valais,  Switzerland,  in  1795.  In  1798  the  successes  of  the 
French  armies  compelled  them  to  abandon  their  monastery 
of  La  Sainte  Volont^  de  Dieu,  and  to  retreat  for  safety  into 
Germany^  and  afterwards  into  the  Russian  dominions.  The 
Emperor  Paul  I.  and  his  consort  received  them  with  every 
mark  of  condescension;  but,  shortly  before  his  majesty's 
barbarous  assassination  on  12th  March,  1801,  they  had 
deemed  it  expedient  to  look  for  refuge  in  England,  which 
they  reached  in  the  course  of  that  year.  For  ten  months  they 
resided  at  Hammersmith;  thence  they  removed  to  Burton, 
near  Christchurch.  To  their  superioress,  Madame  Marie 
Rosalie  Augustine  de  Chabanne,  Henry,  the  eighth  Lord 
Arundell,  generously  offered  his  property  of  Stapehill,  of 
which  she  took  possession  on  13th  November,  1802. 

On  the  night  of  3rd  May,  181 8,  the  monastery  was  exposed 
to  imminent  danger  by  a  fire  that  broke  out  in  the  outhouses. 
The  damage  was  estimated  at  £1,400. — (See  the  abbesses  letter 
in  the  Catholicon  of  the  time,  p.  79.)  The  confidence  of  the 
abbess  in  God's  merciful  providence  was  manifested  on  this 
occasion. 

Pope  Leo  XII.,  who  governed  the  Church  from  28th  Sep- 
tember, 1823,  until  his  saintly  death,  10th  February,  1829, 
taking  into  consideration  the  awful  number  of  deaths  in  mem* 
bers  of  this  community,  too  often  the  victims  of  privations 
and  rigours  beyond  the  strength  of  human  nature,  authorized 
a  mitigation  of  their  rule.  This  was  adopted  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  late  Bishop  Collingridge,  and  the  beneficial  effects 
of  this  altered  discipline  are  apparent  in  the  health  and  com^ 
fort  of  these  children  of  penance. 

The  community  now  consists  of  eighteen  choir  nuns  and 
seventeen  lay  sisters.  Their  worthy  director.  Father  Andrew 
Hawkins  (of  whom  more  in  the  second  part),  has  also  the 
charge  of  the  congregation  of  the  missioui  which  numbers 
about  180  souls.  In  page  42  I  have  mentioned  their  new 
and  convenient  church,  opened  on  16th  July,  1851."^ 

SUPERIORS. 

1.  Madame  de  Chabanne  before  mentioned,  bom  at  Lozere, 
in  Gascony,  19th   May,   1769,  professed  in  the  Cistercian 

*  When  some  old  walls  were  pulled  down  to  make  room  for  this  new 
church,  hiding-holes  were  discovered.  In  one  had  previously  been 
found  a  chalice  with  its  paten. 


BELIOIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  151 

monastery  of  St.  Antoine,  at  Paris,  3rd  June,  1787.  Released 
from  prison  by  tlie  death  of  Robespierre,  she  sought  refuge 
in  Switzerland,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  her  religious  sisters, 
accompanied  them  in  all  their  emigrations,  and  continued  to 
administer  to  their  comfort,  until  she  was  called  to  her  crown 
13th  June,  1844,  set.  seventy-six. 

2.  Mary  Joseph  Troy  succeeded. — N.B.  The  elections  are 
triennial. 

3.  Bev.  Mothier  Aloysim  O'Brien. 

4.  Rev.  Mother  Josephine  Campion  was  elected  in  1851, 
and  ia  the  present  prioress. 

8.  Sales  Home. 

This  invaluable  institution  of  Visitation  Nuns  may  be  said 
to  be  of  English  growth;  its  first  house  was  at  Acton, 
near  London,  a  mansion  purchased  by  Mrs.  Mary  Frances 
(olim  Markham),  relict  of  Cuthbert  Tunstall,  Esq.  After  six 
years'  residence  there  they  removed  to  Shepton  Mallett  in 
1810.  Their  first  superioress,  Louise  Therese  Oranden,  resign- 
ing 19th  March,  1804,  and  their  second  superioress,  Theresa 
Chantal  Hurard,  returning  to  France  in  1816,  they  were  suc- 
ceeded by  Mary  Sales  Weld,  who  took  the  habit  on  27th 
January,  1805.  At  the  end  of  three  years'  government,  Sister 
Mary  Francis  Den,  was  elected ;  and  at  the  expiration  of  her 
triennium,  the  Rev.  Mother  Weld  was  recalled  to  office.  On 
17th  May,  1831,  she  removed  firom  Shepton  Mallett  to  far 
more  eligible  premises  for  situation,  convenience,  and  salu- 
brity. During  their  residence  there,  a  period  of  full  twenty 
years.  Dr.  Coombes,  the  pastor  of  Shepton  Mallett  mission, 
was  their  enlightened  director;  and  in  his  chapel- vault  he 
allowed  the  remains  of  thirteen  of  the  community  to  be 
deposited,  as  also  those  of  their  most  pious  and  charitable 
foundress,  Mrs.  Tunstall. 

I  may  now  subjoin  an  accurate  list  of  the  prioresses  of 
this  interesting  community  : — 

1.  TTierese  Chantal  Hurard  was  elected  at  Acton  House 
above  mentioned  on  19th  March,  1804,  re-elected  in  1807. 
Seeing  the  convent  rooted  and  flourishing,  she  returned  to 
France,  and  died  at  Dijon  3rd  March,  1829,  aged  eighty-one, 
prof,  sixty.  This  good  mother  had  been  accompanied  to 
England  by  Sister  Magdalene  Angela  Heugue  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  this  Visitation  convent;  but  the  latter  died 
11th  February,  1812,  set.  sixty-six,  prof,  forty-five. 

2.  Mary  Sales  Weld  was  elected  superioress  7th  June, 
1810;  re-elected  3rd  June,  1813;  ditto  28th  May,  1819; 
ditto  23rd  May,  1822    ditto  22nd  May,  1828 ;  ditto  2nd  May, 


152  HISTORICAL    REPORT   OF   THE 

1831;  ditto  4th  June,  1840 ;   and  lastly,  Ist  June,  1843— 
altogether  presiding  twenty-one  years. 

3.  Mary  Francis  Den  was  elected  30th  May,  1816;  re- 
elected 19th  May,  1825;  ditto  15th  May,  1834;  and  again 
11th  May,  1837. 

4.  Mary  Francis  Angela  VaugJian  was  elected  28th  May, 
1846,  re-elected  24th  May,  1849. 

5.  Mary  Francis  Sales  Weld  (olim  Clare  Weld,  and  sister 
to  the  above-mentioned  superioress,  who  received  her  profes- 
sion 25th  August,  1813)  was  elected  27th  May,  1852;  re- 
elected 24th  May,  1855. 

9.  St,  Gregory's  Monastery  at  Doumside,  near  Bath. 

In  the  "  Rambler "  of  December,  1850,  I  commenced  a 
series  of  papers  on  the  truly  venerable  English  Benedictine 
congregation ;  and  the  very  first  chapter  was  devoted  to  iUus- 
trate  the  history  of  the  Gregorian  Convent  and  College  at 
Douay,  from  the  year  1608.  To  that  report  I  must  refer 
the  reader  of  this  compilation.  Like  the  rest  of  the  Catholic 
establishments  in  France,  these  good  Benedictines  had  to 
drink  the  chalice  of  Jesus  to  the  very  dregs.  Forced  to 
emigrate  in  1793,  they  experienced  a  welcome  reception  at 
Acton  Bumell,  a  seat  of  Sir  Edward  Smythe,  the  fifth  baronet 
of  his  family.*  There  they  continued  for  twenty  years  pur- 
suing their  conventual  and  collegiate  life,  when  an  eligible 
opportunity  presenting  itself  of  purchasing  Downside,  they 
availed  themselves  of  it,  and  on  25th  April,  1814,  the  com- 
munity entered  into  possession.  This  epoch  was  duly  com- 
memorated a  quarter  of  a  century  later  (25th  April,  1839), 
when  the  Smythe  family  generously  invited  all  the  Bene- 
dictines who  had  been  educated  at  Acton  Burnell  to  enjoy 
their  hospitality  in  that  ancient  mansion.  Of  the  nineteen 
Benedictines  then  in  England,  fifteen  attended  that  happy 
re-union  of  friends  and  brothers.  To  the  generous  foundei^ 
of  that  cordial  and  gratifying  festivity,  I  believe,  that  re- 
compense will  be  made  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just.— 
Luke  xiv.  14. 

All  true  English  Catholics  must  rejoice  and  praise  Ood  at 
witnessing  the  increasing  prosperity  and  renown  of  this  estab- 
lishment. In  page  62  I  have  cursorily  noticed  the  services 
its  members  are  doing  to  religion,  and  shall  confine  my 
attention  to  the  list  of  its  priors  since  the  French  Revolution. 

•  Ob.  nth  April,  1811. 

t  I  regret  to  learn  that  Sir  Edward  Joseph  Smythe,  this  sixth 
baronet,  died  on  11th  March,  1856,  aged  bixty-eight. 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  153 

1.  James  {Jerome)  Sharrock. — He  was  younger  brother 
of  Prior  William  (Gregory)  Sharrock^  on  whose  promotion 
to  the  see  of  Telmessus  (of  whom  more  hereafter  in  the 
second  part)^  he  was  by  unanimous  voice  elected  in  1780.  Like 
his  saintly  brother^  he  had  the  talent  of  gaining  the  hearts 
of  all  his  subjects.  Forced  by  the  iniquity  of  the  times  to 
abandon  his  monastery^  he  found  an  asylum  at  Acton  Burnell. 
His  episcopal  brother^  anxious  to  secure  such  an  associate  in 
the  government  of  the  Western  District,  applied  to  Borne  for 
him.  The  selection  was  approved,  and  I  have  seen  the  Bulls 
expedited  on  19th  April,  1806,  constituting  him  Bishop  of 
Themiscyra ;  but  the  humility  of  the  good  prior  could  not  be 
prevailed  on  to  accept  the  mitre,  and  he  died  at  Acton 
Burnell  in  the  arms  of  his  beloved  monks,  on  1st  Aprils  1808, 
at.  fifty-eight. 

2.  Richard  (Peter)  Kendall,  a  priest  of  great  merit.  He 
had  hardly  completed  the  purchase  of  Downside,  near  Bath, 
for  the  present  convent  and  college,  when,  I  believe,  he  was 
translated  into  the  eternal  Tabernacles,  on  the  26th  Marcb^ 
1814. 

3^.  Thomas  Lawson  was  elected  10th  May,  1814,  and  was 
the  first  prior  of  Downside.  He  resigned  the  office  on  23rd 
July,  1818,  and  ended  his  useful  life  at  Salford  Nunnery^  on 
23rd  April,  1830. 

4.  Luke  Barber. — He  received  the  habit  from  the  hand  of 
Prior  James  Sharrock,  and  took  the  religious  name  of  Bernard, 
26th  April,  1807.  During  the  twelve  years  of  his  govern- 
ment St.  Gregory's  College  wonderfully  prospered.  On  10th 
July,  1823,  he  opened  its  new  and  elegant  church,  which,  as 
he  truly  thought,  should  be  the  principal  object  of  attention 
in  every  well-regulated  community.  On  the  death  of  F. 
Lawson  his  services  were  required  to  supply  the  station  at 
Salford,  and  Stanbrook  subsequently.  In  1842  he  was,  to 
the  joy  of  his  friends,  elected  president  and  created  D.D. ; 
but  to  my  inexpressible  grief  he  suddenly  passed  away,  God 
giving  sleep  to  his  beloved  servant  on  the  29th  of  December, 
1850,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  thirty-sixth  of  his 
priesthood. 

5.  George  Turner, — After  serving  the  Bellingham  mission 
for  thirty  years,  this  experienced  clergyman  was  elected 
prior  on  24th  November,  1830.    After  nearly  completing  his 

*  I  have  given  the  history  of  this  excel] ent  convent,  founded  at  Cam- 
bray  162d,inthe**Ranililer"of  June,1851.  At  tlieir  emigration  in  1795, 
they  went  first  to  Wootton,  near  Liverpool,  thence  removed  to  Abbot's 
Salford,  in  Warwickshire,  in  1807,  but  wisely  transferred  themselves  in 
May,  1838,  to  their  presenteligtble  situation  at  Stanbrook,  nearWorcester. 


154  HISTORICAL   REPORT   OF   THE 

quadriennium^  he  was  appointed  director  to  the  convent 
at  Princethorpe,  near  Coventry,  and  there  the  venerable  man 
rested  from  his  labours  on  15th  February^  1854,  aged  eighty* 
four. 

6.  Thomas  Joseph  Brown,  D.D. — Of  this  eminent  luminary 
of  our  English  Church  I  shall  have  to  treat  largely  in  the 
second  part.  He  was  chosen  prior  on  F.  Turner's  retirement, 
18th  July,  1834,  and  his  six  years'  government,  until  his 
merits  summoned  him  away  to  become  the  first  Bishop  of  the 
new  vicariat  of  Wales  (to  which  he  was  consecrated  28th 
October,  1840),  greatly  redounded  to  the  fame  and  prosperity 
of  the  college. 

7.  Joseph  Wilson. — I  have  briefly  referred  to  this  able 
priest,  in  page  58.  This  fit  successor  to  Dr.  Brown  exerted  his 
characteristic  energy  for  the  good  of  his  establishment.  He 
commenced  with  obtaining  the  royal  charter  for  enabling  its 
^Ikves  to  graduate  in  the  London  University.  During  his 
fourteen  years'  administration  he  endeared  himself  to  all  by 
his  business-like  habits,  and  considerate  attention  to  the 
comforts  of  all  under  his  charge. 

8.  James  (Norbert)  Sweeney^  since  his  election  in  July, 
1854,  emulates  the  merits  of  his  able  predecessors. 

10.  Dominicanesses  at  Haripury, 

This  English  community  of  the  Rosary  was  first  established 
in  1661,  at  Vilvorden,  seven  miles  from  Brussels,  by  the 
Hon.  and  Rev.  Philip  Thomas  Howard,  O.S.D.  He  began  with 
three  ladies  trained  in  the  Dominican  Nunnery  at  Temsche, 
near  Bomhem,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  Scheldt.  His 
sister  Henrietta  joined  them,  with  several  other  persons  of 
distinction ;  but  for  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  they  had 
to  encounter  many  inconveniences  and  difSculties.  But  their 
founder,  now  a  cardinal,  was  enabled  to  purchase  for  them  a 
commodious  house  in  Brussels,  into  which  they  were  trans- 
ferred in  1690,  and  here  these  good  religious  pursued  the 
even  tenor  of  their  way  until  22nd  June,  1794,  when  the 
rapid  approach  of  the  French  armies  compelled  them  to 
speed  their  flight  towards  their  native  country.  On  16th 
July  they  reached  the  British  shore  in  safety,  and  on  2nd 
September  found  a  comfortable  asylum  in  Hartpury  Court, 
near  Gloucester,  for  the  next  forty-five  years.  On  19th 
September,  1839,  they  removed  to  their  present  convenient 
residence  at  Atherstone,  in  the  county  of  Warwick.  I 
proceed  to  offer  a  list  of  the  prioresses,  after  premising  that 
Dr.  Milner  incorrectly  stated  in  the  Directory  of  1795,  p.  20, 


RELIGIOUS    E8TADLI8HMENTS.  155 

that  Henrietta,  the  founder's  sister,  ever  presided  over  the 
convent. 

1.  Lucy  Hurlock,  one  of  the  three  religions  taken  from  the 
nunnery  at  Temsche,  in  1661,  was  declared  prioress  by  the 
founder,  and  served  the  office  for  six  years. 

2.  Barbara  Boyle  for  thirty  consecutive  years  governed 
her  sisters,  and  removed  with  them  from  Yilvorden  into 
Brussels.  With  a  short  interval  for  repose,  she  was  called 
upon  to  serve  the  office  for  two  other  trienniums. 

3.  Mary  Crofts  was  prioress  from  1697  to  1700. 

'   4*.  Dorothy  Canning,  the  first  of  the  convent  professed  at 
Brussels,  supplied  from  1703  to  1706. 

5.  Ann  Bushby  was  elected  in  1709. 

6.  Agnes  Atmore  governed  the  convent  altogether  for  nine 
years,  but  not  continuously. 

7.  Constantia  Mildmay,  elected  in  1715. 

8.  Mary  Rose  Howard,  of  Norfolk,  niece,  I  apprehend,  of 
the  cardinal,  succeeded  to  superiority  in  1721  for  three  yeara. 

9.  Letitia  Barber  was  elected  in  1727. 

10.  Julia  Broum  followed  in  1730. 

11.  Mary  Ann  Chilton  electeA  in  1733;  re-elected  in  1736. 

12.  Mary  Theresa  Sarsfield  elected  1739,  and  died  in 
February,  1740. 

13.  Mary  Young  was  substituted  for  the  deceased  prioress. 

14.  Margaret  Joseph  Compton  elected  in  1742;  re-elected 
in  1751. 

15.  Mary  Agnes  Short  governed  the  house  for  a  very  long 
period  ;  but  owiog  to  the  loss  of  documents  I  cannot  speak 
with  precision.  In  all  probability  she  presided  from  1745  to 
1751 ;  and  then  from  1754  to  1780.  She  died  10th  December, 
1782,  set.  eighty- three,  prof,  fifty-two. 

16.  Mary  Hyacinth  WilHnson  elected  1780.  Ob.  27th 
December,  1789. 

17.  Dominic  Brooke  elected  1783;  re-elected  in  1789.  Ob. 
8th  March,  1816,  aet.  eighty-seven,  rel.  sixty. 

18.  Mary  Ann  Calvert,  elected  1786. 

19.  Mary  Louisa  Aligood,  elected  in  1792,  was  under 
the  painful  necessity  of  abandoning  her  beloved  convent,  and 
with  her  children  looking  for  refuge  in  England.  She  re- 
signed in  1803. 

20.  Mary  Magdalen  Bastow  was  elected  in  1803 ;  re-elected 
in  1821,  again  in  1830 ;  died  in  office. 

21.  Catherine  Theresa  Dartan  elected  in  1806  and  1815. 
Ob.  8th  February,  1824,  set.  seventy,  one,  prof,  thirty-four. 

22.  Mary  TJieresa  Leadbitter  elected  in  1809,  1824,  1832. 
Ob.  2l8t  August,  181^,  act.  seventy,  rel.  fifty-eight. 


156  HISTORICAL    EKPOftT   OF   THE 

23.  Mary  Rose  Stowers,  elected  in  1812^  again  in  1818. 
Ob.  2nd  April,  1847,  aet.  eighty-five,  rel.  fifty-eight. 

24.  Mary  Dominica  Stennet  elected  in  1827  and  1835.  Ob. 
5th  June,  1848,  aet.  seventy-five,  rel.  fifty-four. 

25.  Mary  Hyacinth  Malthouse,  elected  in  1838 ;  and  the 
next  year  conducted  her  community  to  Atherstone^  viz.  19th 
September,  1839. 

11.  The  English  Liege  Nuns  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 

This  respected  community  from  Liege  is  entitled  to  notice 
in  these  pages,  by  having  taken  up  their  residence  at  Dean 
House,  Wiltshire,  from  the  year  1796  until  they  transferred 
their  establishment  to  New-hall,*  Essex.  They  had  justly 
acquired  the  renown  of  giving  a  superior  education  to  young 
ladies  of  the  first  distinction ;  and  thus  deserved  the  protec- 
tion and  encouragement  of  all  well-regulated  governments. 
But  the  vertigo  of  infidelity  had  cast  to  the  winds  all  right 
principle,  and  visited  with  proscription  the  best  benefactors 
to  their  fellow-creatures.  These  ladies  found  it  necessary  for 
their  personal  safety  to  retire  from  the  approaching  hurricane 
of  the  French  revolutionists.  After  incredible  privations  and 
fatigues,  they  reached  Greenwich  on  18th  August,  1794; 
remained  in  London  two  months ;  thence  proceeded  to 
Holme  Hall,  in  Yorkshire;  then  happily  transferred  them- 
selves to  Dean  House,  Wilts,  in  1796.  Here  they  continued 
to  render  incalculable  services  by  their  admirable  system  of 
education  until  January,  1799,  when  they  exchanged  the 
locality  for  New  Hall. 

In  its  early  days  the  community  experienced  in  Mrs.  Mary 
Ward  a  zealous  friend  and  benefactress.  This  lady  was 
daughter  of  Marmaduke  Ward,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Ursula 
Wright.  Her  death  occurred  at  Heyworth,  near  York, 
on  20th  January,  1645,  set.  sixty ;  and  her  funeral  in  the 
adjoining  churchyard  was  marked  by  unusual  respect  and 
honour. 

I  may  now  ofiFer  the  regular  succession  of  prioresses. 

1.  Susan  Hawley  was  canonically  chosen  perpetual  prioress 

•  It  appears  to  have  been  built  by  the  Butlers,  earls  of  Onnond. 
King  Henry  VUI.  purchased  it  of  the  Boleyns  for  a  royal  residence, 
and  erected  a  noble  gateway,  inscribed  thus  : — 

Henricus  Rex  Octavus,  Rex  inclytus  annis 
Magnificus,  struxit  hoc  opus  egregium. 

The  gateway  has  been  destroyed^  but  the  inscription  and  escutcheon 
may  be  seen  in  the  convent  cliapel.  The  famous  GeneriJ  Monk  resided 
hei-e. 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  157 

on  25th  November^  1652;  she  had  entered  religion  at  Tongres 
in  1641.  Thence,  with  some  other  English  ladies  of  the 
same  order,  she  had  removed  with  Rev.  Mother  Margaret, 
mistress  of  novices,  into  Liege,  to  commence  a  convent  of 
their  nation.  When  that  reverend  mother,  who  had  been 
regarded  as  superior,  returned  to  Tongres,  Mrs.  Susan 
Hawley  was  appointed  ad  interim  to  replace  her  before  the 
above  canonical  election.  She  held  oflSce  forty-seven  years, 
and  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four,  dying  on 
Christmas-day,  1706. 

2.  Marina  Doleman  presided  for  thirty  years,  and  died  in 
office  25th  September,  1722. 

3.  Susan  Raucroii.—She  died  6th  October,  1739,  »t. 
seventy-one. 

4.  Christina  Percy  died  10th  January,  1749,  aet.  fifty- 
eight. 

5.  M.  Xaveria  Withenbury  died  29th  May,  1775,  set. 
eighty-two,  prof,  fifty-three,  having  held  her  dignity  twenty 
years. 

6.  M.  Christina  Dennett  died  12th  July,  1781,  set.  fifty- 
one. 

7.  M.  Austin  Westby  died  8rd  March,  1786. 

8.  Ahysia  Clough,  for  thirty  eventful  years  endeared 
herself  to  her  subjects  by  her  exemplary  prudence,  conde- 
scension, and  amiable  manners.  Almighty  God  called  away 
the  venerable  lady  on  6th  July,  1816,  at  New-hall,  at  the  age 
of  seventy- nine.  She  had  been  a  religious  fifty-nine  years 
and  five  months. 

9.  Elizabeth  Mary  Regis  Gerard,  eldest  daughter  of 
Sir  Robert  Gerard,  Bart.,  was  elected  16th  July,  1816,  and 
governed  the  house  until  her  lamented  death,  13th  June, 
1843,  set.  seventy-two. 

10.  Ann  Mary  Clifford,  elected  22nd  June,  1843;  but 
was  prematurely  taken  off  on  14th  January  following, 
set.  seventy-four,  prof,  fifty. 

11.  Theresa  Joseph  Blount  is  the  present  reverend  mother 
of  this  flourishing  community. 

12.  Convent  of  ofur  Lady  of  Mercy,  Dighton  Street,  Bristol. 

This  establishment  was  founded  on  20th  February,  1846. 

The  first  superior  was  Sister  Mary  Jane  Frances  Beau-' 
champ,  who  governed  the  house  to  which  she  had  been  a 
principal  benefactress.  She  was  succeeded  in  office  by 
Sister  Mary  Stanislaus  Savage,  elected  24th  May,  1855. 

Attached  to  the  convent  is  a  house  of  refuge,  where 


158  HISTORICAL   REPORT  OP  TH« 

servants  out  of  place  are  received  until  they  can  be  provided 
with  suitable  situations.  Part  of  this  house  is  occupied  bv  a 
limited  number  bf  orphans^  who  aie  fed  and  clothed  by  the 
nuns.  Is  not  this  pure  and  undefiled  religion  before  God 
and  the  Father? 

13.  Monastery  of  La  Trappe,  at  Lullworth,  Dorset. 

The  original  house  of  our  Lady  de  la  Trappe  was  an 
ancient  Cistercian  monastery,  situate  in  the  diocese  of  Seez, 
in  Normandy.  By  degrees  its  inmates  had  notoriously 
degenerated  from  the  primitive  fervour  of  their  institute^ 
when  the  Almighty  inspired  a  distiuguished  ecclesiastic, 
Armand  Jean  le  Bonthillier  de  Ranee,  to  revive  the  spirit  of 
their  founders.  This  extraordinary  man  had  renounced  all 
his  prospects  and  fortune  to  embrace  a  poor  and  penitential 
life,  and  his  admirable  example  and  zealous  persuasions  pro- 
duced the  happiest  reformation  amongst  his  brethren  and 
disciples.  He  lived  to  see  his  monastery  become  the  admi- 
ration of  the  Christian  world,  and  so  deeply  did  he  siuk  the 
foundations  of  his  own  religious  spirit  in  the  hearts  of  his 
subjects,  that  no  appearance  of  decay  was  visible  when  the 
monastery  was  swept  away  in  the  hurricane  of  the  French 
B^volution. 

That  blessed  solitude  had  special  attractions  for  devout 
souls,  and  we  find  many  illustrious  characters  in  church  and 
state  impatient  to  visit  it,  and  dwell  for  a  time  in  the  shade 
of  its  peaceful  cloisters.  Here  King  James  II.  made  his 
annual  retreat,  and  learned  to  despise  earthly  grandeur,  and 
to  aspire  after  that  which  is  eternal.  Here  Archbishop 
Beaumont,  the  Athanasius  of  France,  armed  himself  with 
fresh  zeal  and  constancy  to  combat  infidelity,  and  face  the 
persecution  of  courts  and  parliaments.  Here  that  gem  of  the 
episcopal  order,  Monseigneur  de  la  Motte,  used  joyfully  to 
repair  to  burnish  up  his  spiritual  weapons,  and,  like  the  hart, 
to  take  in  copious  draughts  of  fervour  to  run  the  course  of  the 
divine  commandments.  ^ 

When  we  read  the  rules  of  La  Trappe,  nature  startles,  and 
is  disposed  to  censure  what  it  has  not  courage  to  imitate.  But 
the  love  of  Jesus  Christ  crucified  softens  and  subdues  every 
difficulty,  and  makes  these  victims  of  penance  exult  in  their 
multiplied  austerities.  These  devout  solitaries  have  ever 
present  to  their  mind  the  moving  example  of  their  blessed 
Redeemer,  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  of  the  martyrs,  of  the 
fathers  of  the  desert;  they  treasure  up  the  maxims  of  self- 
denial  and  renunciation  recorded  in  the  Gospel, — ^they  arc 


RELtOIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  159 

convinced  of  the  great  difficulty  of  salvation ;  in  the  silence 
of  human  passions  they  meditate  on  the  hatred  which  Grod 
bears  to  sin^  and  on  the  eternity  of  hell's  avenging  flames.  /  / 
Hence  they  imbibe  a  sincere  attachment  to  their  happy  '  ^ 
vocation,  and  are  firmly  persuaded,  with  St.  Paul,  that  all 
the  penitential  rigours  of  this  life  are  much  too  light  for  the 
joys  of  heaven.  Let  any  one  read,  ''  Relation  de  la  Vie  et  de 
la  Mort  de  quelques  Religieux  de  La  Trappe  (Paris,  1755),^' 
and  he  will  be  delighted  with  the  cheerful  service  of  these 
holy  penitents, — he  will  rejoice  that  the  Almighty  Father  is 
so  much  honoured  by  His  children, — his  notions  of  the 
efficacy  of  grace  cannot  fail  to  be  exalted, — he  will  feel  a 
contempt  of  all  that  passes  with  time,  be  encouraged  to  lead 
a  penitential  life,  and  to  sanctify  himself  in  his  particular 
calling. 

ABBOTS    OF    OLD    LA   TRAPPE. 

1.  JoAn,  the  founder,  already  mentioned,  was  professed 
26th  June,  1662;  ob.  27th  October,  1700,  aet.  sixty-five. 
King  Louis  XIV.  allowed  him,  five  years  before  his  resigna- 
tion and  death,  to  appoint  his  successor — 

2.  ZozvnMJiAy  called  in  the  world  Peter  Foisel. — He  was  a 
native  of  BellSme,  and  was  professed  19th  August,  1681 ; 
in  the  course  of  1695  was  nominated  abbot  \  but  died  after 
a  short  illness,  on  3rd  March  following. 

3.  Gervaise  Armand  Francois  succeeded;  but  at  the 
expiration  of  eighteen  months  consented  to  resign  his 
dignity.  He  survived  till  1751,  having  attained  his  ninety- 
first  year. — (See  art.  Gervaise  (Dom.  Armand  Fran9oi8), 
Feller's  Diet.  Historique.) 

4.  Jacques  de  la  Cour  was  appointed  abbot  towards  the 
close  of  1698,  abdicated  his  office  in  1713,  and  died  2nd 
June,  1720.  At  the  petition  of  the  duke  of  Tuscany,  he 
sent  a  colony  of  his  religious  to  the  old  Cistercian  Abbey  of 
Buon  Solazzo,  near  Florence,  in  1704. 

5.  Isidore  DermetOres,  professed  25th  May,  1698;  installed 
abbot  in  January,  1714,  and  died  in  office  24th  June, 
1727. 

6.  Franqois  Atigustin  Gonche,  professed  9th  November, 
1716;  appointed  abbot  5th  September,  1727;  died  11th 
September,  1734. 

7.  Zozime  Hurel,  professed  3rd  October,  1707;  nominated 
abbot  late  in  the  year  1734;  died  7th  February,  1747. 

8.  Malachy  Le  Brun  for  more  than  twenty  years  governed 
the  community  with  the  highest  reputation  for  zeal  and 
wisdom.     He  was  the  bosom  friend  of  La  Motte,  the  vene- 


160  HISTORICAL    REPORT  OF   THE 

rable  bishop  of  Amiens.  We  learn  from  the  life  of  that 
saintly  prelate^  that  a  destructive  fire  took  place  in  the  abbey 
in  1664.  The  good  superior  survived  this  trial  about  two 
years,  dying  10th  June,  1766. 

9.  Theodore. — In  him  the  desert  of  La  Trappe  witnessed 
the  becoming  successor  of  so  many  worthy  predecessors  in 
ofBce.     He  died,  I  conjecture,  in  1783. 

10.  Pierre  died  at  the  end  of  the  year  1789,  when  his 
authority  descended  of  right  to  Louis  Marie  Rocourt,  abbot 
of  Clairvaux.  Seeing  that  the  revolutionary  storm  was 
ready  to  burst,  that  the  religious  would  be  scattered,  and 
that  the  conventual  houses  and  estates  would  be  seized,  and 
sold  as  national  property,  he  authorized  Dom.  Augustin 
Lestrange,  the  master  of  novices,  by  letter  of  12th  May, 
1791,  to  abandon  his  monastery,  and  repair  to  an  old 
Carthusian  abbey,  called  Val-Sainte,  within  the  canton  of 
Friburg.  On  the  1st  of  June  that  year,  he  entered  that 
asylum  with  about  twenty  religious;  and  shortly  after. 
Pope  Pius  VI.  confirmed  Dom.  Augustin  in  the  dignity  of 
abbot.  For  a  further  account  of  this  persecuted  man,  see 
the  Address  in  the  Ordo  of  1813. 

A  colony  of  six  monks  from  this  Abbey  of  Val-Sainte 
arrived  in  London  during  the  month  of  August,  1794«. 
Their  superior,  Dom.  Jean  Baptiste  de  Noyer,  had  received 
his  appointment  the  preceding  year.  Their  intention  was  to 
proceed  forthwith  to  Canada;  but  Providence  had  other 
designs  upon  them.  The  late  Thomas  Weld,  Esq.,  always 
ready  to  assist  and  harbour  the  harbourless,  invited  them  to 
Lulworth,  where  they  arrived  in  October,  1794,  and  placed 
them  in  the  chaplain's  house  near  his  castle.  Here  they 
remained  till  March,  1796,  when  they  removed  into  a  new 
monastery  in  East  Lulworth,  which  he  had  provided  for 
them  in  a  dry  and  sheltered  situation, — the  very  reverse  of 
the  old  house  of  La  Trappe.  It  was  dedicated  under  the 
name  of  the  Holy  Trinity  and  St.  Susan,  and  here  they 
increased  and  prospered.  The  first  prior  was  John  Baptist, 
already  mentioned.  He  quitted  England  in  the  summer  of 
1801,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Dom.  Marie  Bernard 
Benoit,  who  died  in  July,  1805.  Dom.  Maur  Adam  was  the 
third  prior ;  but  he  was  hurried  to  the  tomb  in  May,  1810. 
Then  was  called  to  the  helm  a  very  distinguished  character, 
Dom.  Antoinc  Saulnier  de  Beaureaund,  a  quondam  canon  of 
Sens  Cathedral,  and  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a  superior 
man.  Pope  Pius  VII.,  in  consideration  of  his  merits,  raised 
him,  in  May,  1813,  to  the  rank  of  abbot,  and  as  such  he 
was  blessed  by  Bishop  Poynter,  in  London,  in  the  August 


RBLlGIOtTS    ESTABLISHMENTS.  161 

following.  Under  his  direction.  La  Trappe  attracted  the 
attention  and  wonder  of  all  classes.  E^ery  unprejudiced 
visitor'*  must  have  departed  from  the  sight  of  these  holy 
men,  delighted  with  their  indefatigable  industry,  their  admi- 
rable frugality,  and  their  cheerful  and  unaffected  piety. 
And  yet  persons  were  found  who  frightened  themselves  into 
the  persuasion  that  their  example  might  contribute  to  the 
multiplication  of  such  establishments  in  Protestant  England. 
Had  they  reasoned,  had  they  inquired,  their  terrors  must 
have  vanished ;  for  in  all  Catholic  France,  before  the  Revolu- 
tion, there  was  but  one  single  convent  of  La  Trappe  !  Until 
the  beginning  of  1816,  these  good  religious  had  experienced 
the  most  profound  tranquillity,  when  they  had  to  feel  expe- 
rimentally the  force  of  Christ's  words,  "  A  man's  enemies 
are  those  of  his  own  household."  One  James  Fower,t  a 
native  of  Waterford,  after  seven  years  spent  in  the  order, 
decamped  towards  the  end  of  January,  1816,  and  soon  after 
publicly  abjured  the  Catholic  faith  in  the  parish  church  of 
Blandford.  Not  satisfied  with  this  scandal,  the  heartless 
man,  on  16th  March  that  year,  swore  to  several  charges, 
as  may  be  seen  in  the  Appendix.  But  the  imprincipled 
apostate  was  soon  after  summoned  before  the  tribunal  of 
Heaven,  to  answer  for  his  hypocrisy,  false  testimony,  and 
violation  of  his  solemn  vows.  The  result  of  the  business 
was,  that  the  abbot,  with  much  reluctance,  decided  on  trans- 
porting his  establishment  to  France,  as  soon  as  circumstances 
would  permit.  On  application  to  the  French  authorities, 
permission  was  granted,  and  Lewis  XYIII.  assisted  the 
abbot  in  purchasing  the  ancient  Bemardine  Convent  and 
domain  of  Melleray,  in  the  diocese  of  Nantes,  and  sent 
the  La  Revanche  frigate  to  Weymouth,  to  take  on  board 
their  community,  as  idso  a  lugger  to  convey  their  goods  and 
chatties  to  France.  On  7th  July,  1817,  this  band  of  holy 
monks,  fifty-nine  in  number,  embarked,  reached  the  French 
coast  on  the  23rd,  and  entered  their  new  monastery,  with 
imposing  solemnity,  on  7th  August.  There,  as  at  Lullworth, 
they  proved  a  daily  source  of  benediction  to  the  surrounding 

*  Havinff  had  the  comfort  and  blessing  of  witnessing  their  fervid 
piety  and  their  industrious  and  penetential  life  in  the  years  1810  and 
1816, 1  conld  not  help  comparuig  what  I  saw  and  admired  with  a 
description  of  a  monasterv  of  penitents,  as  described  by  St.  John  Cli- 
macus.  It  is  truly  in  such  places  men  learn  how  to  live  and  how  to 
die.  The  reader  will  be  edified  with  the  account  of  a  visit  made  here, 
as  detailed  in  vol.  v.  of  the  CJathoUeon^  as  also  with  the  visit  of  the 
lamented  Princess  Charlotte  of  Wales,  in  the  same  volume^  p.  242. 

t  See  Appendix  No.  VII. 

M 


162  HISTOaiCAL    REPORT   OF   THE 

country  by  their  virtues  and  superabundant  charity.*^ 
(2  Kings  vi.)  During  their  stay  at  Lullworth,  they  buried 
l-wenty-seven  of  their  brethren;  viz.  seven  priests^  thirteen 
ohoir-religious,  the  rest  postulants  or  lay-brothers. 

I  have  remarked^  that  the  abbot  quitted  his  peaceful 
abode  with  reluctance.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  penetration, 
and  he  was  far  from  being  at  his  ease  as  to  the  political 
horizon  of  France.  But  he  had  a  precious  flock  to  feed^ 
guide,  and  protect.  How  they  occupied  themselves  at 
Melleray,  and  what  good  they  rendered  to  society  at  large, 
is  set  forth  in  the  letter  of  Monsieur  Richer  describing  his 
visit ;  which  may  be  seen  in  the  first  volume  of  the  "  Catholic 
Miscellany"  of  1822,  pp.  108-155,  202-269.  But  Prance 
proved  herself  unworthy  of  possessing  such  meritorious, 
patriotic,  and  edifying  fathers  of  the  desert.  The  cancerous^ 
revolutionary  spirit  of  France  had  extended  to  the  provinces, 
and  though  the  political  authorities  were  eager,  in  the  early 
part  of  1831,  to  dissolve  the  establishment,  still  the  firmness 
of  the  abbot,  who  stood  upon  his  rights  as  a  French  citizen, 
and  a  proprietor  of  the  house  of  Melleray,  kept  them  at  bay. 
But,  after  nine  months'  annoyance  and  menace,  more  than  a 
thousand  troops  entered  the  abbey,  on  28th  September,  1831, 
with  drawn  swords,  loaded  muskets,  and  fixed  bayonets,  and 
commanded  the  saintly  inmates  to  be  driven  from  this 
earthly  paradise;  with  difficulty  could  sixty-four  (another 
account  says  seventy-eight)  of  this  community  that  were 
British  subjects  obtain  license  to  remain  until  the  British 
consul  at  Nantes  was  able  to  procure  them  a  passage  to  their 
native  country.  From  the  5th  of  October  none  of  the 
brethren  were  suffered  to  wear  their  religious  habit,  or  to 
say  Mass,  but  in  their  chambers,  and  no  two  persons  were 
permitted  to  pray  together  I     On  12th  November  the  British 

*  1  believe  that  no  individuals  with  the  same  amount  of  means  can 
exercise  so  much  charity  as  the  monks  of  La  Trappe.  When  France 
was  devastated  with  famine  and  epidemy  in  1709,  the  poor  and  infected 
of  an  immense  district  looked  to  La  Trappe  for  relief  and  comfort.  In 
that  year  more  than  80,000  persons  received  assistance  from  that  single 
convent !  In  one  day  no  fewer  than  1 2,000  persons  were  relieved  !  The 
heroic  sacrifices  of  the  monks  raised  them  above  all  praise  as  men,  as 
citizens,  and  as  Christians. — See  the  above-quoted  work,  **  Relation  de 
la  Vie,'^  &c.,  vol.  v.  p.  28.  After  paying  a  visit  to  La  Trappe,  Monseig- 
neur  La  Motte,  writmg  to  a  friend,  thus  expresses  himselt :  *'  Je  dis  k 
M.  le  Cardinal  Ministre,  one  je  voyais  en  quatre  jours  les  deux  extr^- 
mit^s  du  monde,  la  cour  d  un  grand  roi,  et  le  monast^re  de  La  Trappe. 
Je  recommandai  beaucoup  cette  Sainte  Abbaie,  ou  avec  18,000  livres  de 
rent  (£720)  on  trouve,  par  les  ressources  que  foumit  la  frugalite,  le 
secret  de  nourir  150  personnes  et  de  recevolr  jusqu'4  deux  milles  hotes 
par  an." 


r 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  168 

Trappists,  guarded  by  an  armed  escort^  were  conducted^  like 
so  many  malefactors^  to  Nantes^  where  they  arrived  the  same 
evenings  and  were  quartered  at  St.  James's  Hospital.  On 
19th  November,  in  spite  of  their  repeated  protestations,  they 
were  put  on  board  a  steamboat,  and  descended  the  Loire. 
At  length  they  embarked  on  board  the  H6b6,  which  con* 
veyed  them  to  the  cove  of  Cork,  where  they  landed  on 
St.  Andrew's  Day.  During  their  voyage,  were  they  not 
justified  in  applying  to  those  infidel  and  inhospitable  rulers 
of  France  the  words  of  iEneas  : — 

'*  Quod  genus  hoc  hominum?  Quern  hunc  tarn  barbara  morem 
Perraittit  Patria?  Hospitio  prohibemur  arencel'* 

But  they  saw  the  will  of  God  in  everything.  In  reward  of 
their  meek  submission,  God,  who  holds  the  hearts  of  men 
and  is  truly  wonderftil  in  his  holy  servants,  raised  up  a  host 
of  benefactors.  The  principal  was  Sir  Richard  Keane,  a 
Protestant,  who  granted  to  them  560  Irish  acres  of  waste 
land  in  the  parish  of  Cappoquin,  near  Dungarvon,  within  the 
coimty  of  Waterford.  He  foresaw  that,  by  their  industry  and 
taste  and  indomitable  energy,  the  land  would  be  reclaimed, 
and  a  spirit  of  enterprise  enkindled  in  the  people.  The 
extraordinary  change  of  that  bleak  country  reminds  us  of  the 
words  of  Isaiah  (chap.  xxxv.  1,  2)  :  Lsetabitor  deserta  et 
invia,  et  exultabit  solitude,  &c.  &c.^  The  foundation-stone 
of  their  new  abbey  was  laid  with  great  solemnity  on  22nd 
August,  1833.  I  thank  Almighty  God,  the  Father  of  the 
poor,  for  having  bestowed  the  blessing  of  such  an  establish- 
ment on  faithAil  Ireland ;  as  also  for  having  vouchsafed,  in 
his  mercy,  to  restore  to  our  own  dear  country,  through  the 
pious  generosity  of  Ambrose  Lisle  PhiUipps,  Esq.,  a  monas- 

*  In  the  Dublin  Evening  Post  of  16th  June,  1896, 1  read  that  the 
Right  Rev.  Abbot  Rvan,  of  this  new  monastery,  had  given  notice  in  the 
DMm  CrouUe  of  his  having  planted  9,012  trees  of  various  kinds 
around  his  premises.  The  reaoer  would  be  gratified  with  the  report 
of  a  «  Visit  to  the  Abbey  of  Mount  Melleray,  in  Ireland,"  in  "  Tait's 
Edinburgh  Magazine"  of  March,  1887. 

In  the  ^S^  of  28th  February,  1838,  is  given  the  account  of  a  meeting 
of  the  directors  and  proprietors  of  the  Irish  waste  lands,  at  Broaf 
street,  London,  holden  the  preceding  day,  Lord  Devon  in  the  chair. 
Major  Beamish,  in  moving  that  the  report  then  read  be  adopted,  stated 
that  **  the  monks  at  Mount  Melleray  had  obtained  a  grant  of  600  or 
700  acres  of  waste  from  Sir  Richard  Keane ;  and  not  only  had  they 
succeeded  in  raising  fine  crops  of  rye,  turnips,  potatoes,  &c.,  but  on 
adjacent  district  of  5,000  acres,  which  had  been  an  unprofitable  waste 
to  the  proprietor,  was  now  tenanUd^  and  under  cultivation.    (Cheers.)'* 

This  Abbot  Vincent  Ryan,  such  a  benefactor  to  his  native  country, 
died  9th  December,  1845. 

M  2 


164  HISTORICAL   REPORT  OP   THB 

tery  of  the  same  institute^  near  Loughborough^  county 
Leicester.  And  how  it  must  have  revived  the  heart  of  their 
venerable  patriarch,  Dom  Antoine,  the  old  abbot  of  Melleray, 
to  hear  these  glad  tidings  of  his  children,  before  Ood  called 
him  to  himself  I  Thus  the  Lord  blessed  the  latter  end  of 
his  servant  more  than  his  beginning. 

14.  The  Passionists  and  Dominicans  at  Woodchester. 

In  pages  121  and  127  I  have  briefly  alluded  to  this 
monastery.  Having  obtained  more  detailed  information,  I 
proceed  to  submit  it  to  my  indulgent  readers. 

William  Leigh,  Esq.,  of  Woodchester  Park,  near  Stroud, 
whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches,  anxious  to  extend  the 
blessing  of  Catholic  faith  in  his  neighbourhood,  decided  on 
establishing  a  religious  community  on  his  property.  At  the 
recommendation  of  Bishop,  now  Cardinal,  Wiseman,  he  in- 
vited P.  Dominic,  the  vice-provincial  of  the  Passionists,  to 
meet  him,  and  to  fix  on  an  eligible  site  for  a  church  and 
monastery.  On  9th  Pebruary,  1846,  P.  Dominic  reached 
Woodchester  Park,  where  he  was  heartily  welcomed  by 
Mr.  Leigh  and  his  family.  A  proper  selection  of  a  site 
being  concluded  on,  Mr.  Leigh,  desirous  of  losing  no  time, 
engaged  for  the  temporary  accommodation  of  the  community 
a  mansion  called  Northfield  House,  Porest  Green  Village, 
near  Nailsworth,  about  a  mile  distant  from  the  site  of  the 
intended  monastery.  On  24th  March,  1846,  P.  Dominic,  in 
the  company  of  Brother  Thomas,  took  possession  of  this  tem- 
porary abode,  and  on  the  next  day,  the  feast  of  the  Annuncia- 
tion of  Our  Lady,  P.  Dominic,  for  the  first  time,  celebrated 
the  holy  sacrifice  in  a  room  hastily  fitted  up,  in  the  presence 
of  six  Catholics.  Pour  days  later  two  other  Passionists 
joined  them,  and  on  the  following  Sunday  they  had  a  public 
service.  P.  Dominic  delivered  a  discourse  to  about  twenty 
Catholics,  several  of  whom  had  come  from  distant  places. 
Por  the  holy  week  they  fitted  up,  for  a  temporary  chapel,  a 
large  room,  previously  occupied  as  a  Dissenting  school-room 
(for  these  premises  belonged  to  a  Dissenting  minister),  and 
on  Palm  Sunday  P.  Dominic  preached  three  several  times. 
This  zealous  father,  writing  at  a  subsequent  period,  expresses 
himself  thus : — *'  The  concourse  of  people  to  our  little  chapel 
from  the  very  first  has  been  great ;  so  much  so,  that  it  could 
not  afford  sufficient  accommodation.  Surely  all  do  not 
attend  with  good  dispositions ;  some  to  criticize,  some  through 
curiosity,  and  finally,  some  to  disturb  the  devotion  of  this 
little  congregation.    However,  with  patience  and  perseverance^ 


RELIGIOUS   ESTABLISHMENTS.  165 

we  have  been  enabled  to  get  on.  Several  Protestants  have 
been  received  into  the  bosom  of  the  Catholic  Church  (the 
first  of  whom  is  already  dead  and  buried  where  the  new 
church  is  being  erected) ;  many  are  under  instructions^  and 
amongst  others,  a  person  of  great  piety,  Mrs.  Evans,  who, 
from  the  first  arrival  of  the  religious  here,  has  shown  a 
maternal  charity  towards  us.''  By  the  end  of  the  year  1846, 
the  community  was  increased  to  ten ;  some  were  engaged  in 
the  afiairs  of  the  house— others  were  occupied  in  administer- 
ing to  the  spiritual  concerns  of  the  rising  congregation. 

In  page  121  I  have  described  the  laying  of  the  foundation- 
stone  of  the  new  church  of  the  Annunciation  of  our  Lady 
on  26th  November,  1846,  the  solemn  consecration  of  the 
sacred  edifice  on  10th  October,  1849,  and  its  glorious  opening 
on  the  following  day.  On  Sunday,  14th  October,  Dr.  Ulla- 
thome,  after  assisting  at  High  Mass,  preached  an  admirable 
sermon.  On  the  same  evening,  after  solemn  vespers,  F. 
Ignatius  (Spenser)  commenced,  for  the  benefit  of  the  congre- 
gation, a  course  of  spiritual  exercises,  which  concluded  on  the 
following  Sunday. 

I  must  not  omit  to  state  that  on  Tuesday,  20th  March, 
1849,  the  community  had  removed  from  Northfield  House  to 
a  large  cottage.  Park-hill,  above  the  new  monastery,  which 
Mr.  Leigh  had  fitted  up  for  a  temporary  residence.  But  as 
there  was  no  sufficient  room  in  it  to  serve  as  a  chapel  for  the 
increasing  congregation,  the  spacious  room  over  the  sacristies 
of  the  new  church  was  prepared  for  this  purpose. 

On  7th  October,  1850,  the  Passionists  removed  from  Wood- 
chester  to  Broadway,  in  Worcestershire,  having  several  Pro- 
testants under  instructions.  In  1846  they  had  reconciled  4 
io  the  Catholic  faith,  12  in  1847,  11  in  1848,  14  in  1849, 
and  21  in  1850.    Total,  62. 

Their  first  superior  at  Woodchester,  as  we  have  seen,  was 
F.  Dominic,  a  man  of  superior  merit,  known  in  the  world  as 
Domenico  Barbieri:  he  was  born  near  Yiterbo  on  4th  August, 
1793  (another  account  states  on  22nd  June,  1792) ;  took  the 
religious  habit  of  the  Passionists  on  14th  November,  1814, 
and  made  his  profession  on  15th  November  of  the  following 
year.  Dr.  Wiseman,  who  had  made  his  acquaintance  at 
Rome,  having  been  consecrated  Bishop  of  Melipotamus  8th 
June,  1840,  and  coadjutor  to  Bishop  Walsh,  V.A.  of  the  Mid- 
land District,  invited  his  zealous  friend  F.  Dominic  to  come 
over  and  establish  a  congregation  of  his  order  in  England. 
He  consented,  and  made  two  journeys  for  the  purpose.  In 
the  second,  after  staying  five  months  at  Oscott  College,  he 
was  put  in  possession  of  Aston  Hall,  near  Stone,  on  17th 


166  HISTORICAL   REPORT  OF  THB 

February^  1842,  where  his  brethren  immediately  begaa  to 
foUow  the  regular  observances  of  their  institute.  From  this 
mother-house  he  was  enabled  to  colonize  Woodchester,  and 
Poplar  House,  London,  since  his  death  removed  to  the 
Hyde. 

F.  Dominic,  beloved  of  God  and  man,  went  about  doing 
good  to  all,  like  his  blessed  Master ;  and  like  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  giving  knowledge  of  salvation  to  his  people  by  the 
remission  of  their  sins.  The  following  narrative  of  events, 
which  occurred  shortly  before  his  arrival  at  Woodchester, 
must  edify  the  reader : — 

''  On  Michaelmas-day,  1845,  he  received  into  the  church 
at  Aston  Hall  Mr.  Dal^dms,  now  one  of  the  Oratorians  at 
Birmingham.  On  9th  October  next  ensuing  he  admitted 
Dr.  Newman,  under  the  following  circumstances : — Mr.  Dal- 
gaims,  on  his  return  from  Aston  to  Littlemore,  near  Oxford, 
wrote  to  the  rev.  father  to  come  thither  without  delay.  He 
started  at  once,  and  arrived  as  an  outside  passenger  by  the 
coach  to  Oxford,  at  ten  p.m.  on  8th  October,  completely 
drenched  with  rain.  He  was  met  at  Oxford  by  Messrs. 
Dalgairns  and  St.  John,  who  accompanied  him  to  Littlemore. 
The  first  words  they  uttered  were  that  Dr.  Newman,  their 
master  and  friend,  had  decided  on  following  their  example. 
This  announcement  made  him  forget  the  fatigue  of  his 
journey.  Stepping  into  a  oonveyance,  they  reached  Little- 
more by  eleven  that  night.  The  rev.  priest  was  introduced 
into  a  parlour,  and  whilst  standing  by  the  fire  to  dry  his 
clothes  Dr.  Newman  entered,  and  kneeling  at  his  feet  and 
begging  his  blessing,  entreated  him  to  hear  his  confession, 
and  receive  him  into  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  F.  Dominic 
was  moved  to  tears ;  and  after  a  short  interval  proceeded  to 
hear  his  general  confession.  On  the  following  morning 
Messrs.  Bowles  and  Stanton  made  their  confessions  also,  and 
in  the  evening  all  read  the  profession  of  faith  in  the  private 
chapel  of  the  house.  On  the  10th  of  October  F.  Dominic 
celebrated  Mass  there,  and  administered  the  holy  communion 
to  Dr.  Newman,  and  Messrs.  Dalgairns,  St.  John,  Bowles, 
and  Stanton.  He  was  afterwards  introduced  by  Mr.  Dalgairns 
to  Mr.  Woodmason,  his  wife  and  two  daughters,  who  begged 
the  benefit  of  his  ministry  to  be  reconciled  to  the  Church. 
All  this  was  accomplished  to  their  mutual  comfort.  When 
F.  Dominic  first  saw  Dr.  Newman,  he  said,  good-humouredly, 
^Little  more,  and  you  will  be  right.' '' 

The  duties  of  vice-provincial  obliging  him,  in  January, 
1847,  to  resign  the  government  of  his  little  community  at 


RELIGIOUS    ESTABLISHlilSNTS.  167 

Woodchester,  he  appointed  for  his  successor  F.  Maroellian^  of 
St.  John  the  Evangelist,  an  Italian,  called  in  the  world  John 
Anthony  Pini.  He  was  born  on  Christmas-eve,  1819,  and 
was  admitted  to  his  rdigious  profession  as  a  Passionist  on 
10th  August,  1837.  He  had  been  sent  by  his  general  to 
England  in  the  spring  of  1845,  and  within  a  twelvemonth 
later  was  called  by  F.  Dominic  to  Northfield  House.  He 
was  certainly  a  man  of  great  promise ;  but  his  constitution 
was  very  delicate,  and  he  was  prematurely  cut  off  on  the 
morning  of  14th  March,  1848,  an^  his  precious  remains  were 
deposited  in  Mr.  Leigh's  vault,  under  the  chapel  of  the  Forty 
Martyrs,  which  I  have  mentioned  in  page  127. 

This  regretted  superior  was  succeeded  by  F.  Vincent,  of 
St.  Joseph,  who  continued  to  preside  at  Woodchester  until 
their  removal  to  Broadway.  I  conclude  this  narrative  by 
a  brief  notice  of  the  end  of  the  saintly  F.  Dominic,  who  died, 
alas  I  too  soon  for  others,  but  not  for  himself,  at  the  Railway 
Hotel,  Beading,  on  Monday  afternoon,  27th  August,  1849. 
He  had  started  that  morning  from  St.  Joseph's,  Poplar  House, 
in  the  company  of  F.  Lewis,  an  Italian  Passionist,  in  order 
to  visit  his  dear  religious  at  Woodchester.  For  some  time  he 
must  have  been  suffering  from  ossification  of  the  heart.  The 
travelling  brought  on  such  excruciating  pain,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  be  lifted  out  of  the  train  at  the  Pangboum-station. 
As  the  cholera  was  then  prevalent  in  England,  and  his  attack 
was  presumed  to  be  cholera,  he  was  refused  accommodation 
at  the  inns,  and  was  obliged  to  lie  for  an  hour  on  a  little 
straw  in  a  cottage.  How  this  must  have  reminded  him  of 
the  suffering  babe  of  Bethlehem.  At  the  arrival  of  the  next 
train  he  was  lifted  in  and  conveyed  to  Beading,  where,  at  the 
Bailway  Hotel,  he  experienced,  every  attention.  But  his 
complaint  was  beyond  all  human  succour,  and  about  three 
P.M.  he  slept  in  the  Lord.  The  corpse  that  evening  was 
removed  to  London,  and  thence  to  Stone,  in  Staffordshire. 
On  the  following  Friday,  Slst  August,  the  community  of 
Aston,  in  all  fifteen  religious,  and  the  Bev.  John  Harkness^ 
of  Swynnerton  Park,  met  at  the  Catholic  chapel  at  Stone, 
and  after  a  solemn  High  Msiss  started  in  procession  from  the 
chapel  to  Aston  Hall,  a  distance  of  two  miles,  followed  by  an 
immense  multitude,  who  conducted  themselves  with  the 
utmost  decency  and  respect  to  departed  worth.  When  the 
procession  arrived  St.  MichaePs  Church,  Aston,  the  coffin 
was  placed  in  the  centre,  and  the  Bev.  John  Harkness  deli- 
vered a  most  impressive  discourse,  which  drew  abundance  of 
tears  from  the  audience  and  spectators.   On  the  conclusion  of 


163  HISTORICAL   REPORT^    ETC. 

the  burial  service,  the  coffin  was  deposited  in  a  vault  pre- 
pared on  the  gospel  side  of  the  sanctuary,  where  it  awaits  a 
glorious  resurrection. 

F.  Eugene,  of  St.  Anthony,  whom  the  general  of  the 
Fassionists  had  delegated  to  be  his  visitor,  arrived  in  England 
during  the  month  of  August,  1850.  He  much  objected  to 
Mr.  Leigh's  wish,  that  his  community  should  be  charged  with 
the  care  of  a  secular  congregation,  and  that  the  church  should 
also  be  parochial.  It  was  then  amicably  arranged  that  his 
Passionist  brethren  should  be  removed  to  Broadway.  During 
these  negotiations  the  Dominicans  were  actually  holding  their 
provincial  chapter,  where  the  propriety  was  debated  and 
agreed  upon,  of  establishing  a  novitiate,  where  the  rule  of 
St.  Dominic  should  be  in  all  things  strictly  observed.  The 
locality  of  the  novitiate  was  to  form  the  subject  of  considera- 
tion for  the  next  day.  But  behold  I  that  very  evening  Mr. 
Leigh,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  Dominicans  before,  having 
merely  seen  some  of  them  at  the  opening  of  Mr.  Haigh's 
beautiful  church  at  Erdington,  co.  Warwick,  that  summer, 
came  and  offered  the  premises  at  Woodchester  for  their  ac- 
ceptance. The  providence  of  God  appeared  so  manifest  in 
the  transaction,  that  there  was  little  hesitation  in  embracing 
the  offer ;  and  accordingly  F.  Augustine  Procter,  accompanied 
by  brother  Lewis  Weldon,  on  8th  October,  1850,  took  pos- 
session, and  was  soon  after  joined  by  F.  Augustine  Midtus 
and  some  postulants.  In  the  next  summer  the  vicar-general 
of  the  Dominicans,  the  very  Bev.  F.  Vincent  Jandel,  made  a 
visitation  of  this  province,  and  shortly  after  sent  over  F. 
Thomas  Burke  from  the  convent  of  Sancta  Sabina,  as  vice- 
master  of  novices.  I  praise  and  bless  Almighty  God  for  the 
bright  prospects  opening  to  religion  in  this  convenient  and 
spacious  monastery.  Under  the  presiding  genius  of  the 
present  superior,  F.  J.  Dominic  Aylward,  I  anticipate  a  host 
of  luminaries,  like  the  Kilwardebys  and  Trivets  of  ancient 
davs  in  England.  Will  no  one  attempt  to  do  justice  to  this 
noble  order,  and  supply  that  great  desideratum — an  Anglia 
Dominicana  ? 


169 


CHAPTER  XV. 

REPOBT  TO   OOYERNMBNT  OF  THB  CATHOLIC   PROPBRTT,  IN   1715 
AND  I7l8y   IN   THB8B  SIX  WBSTBRR   COUNTIBS. 

ComwalL 

Richard  Arundell^  Esq. 

William  Plowden,  Esq  * 

Richard  Rawe^  of  St.  Colombe^  Esq. 

Thomas  Rawe^  of  St.  Cleather 

William  Couche^  of  St.  Sampson 

Nicholas  James^  of  Newlyn    . 

James  Lincolne^  ef  ditto 

Richard  Rawe,  of  St.  Colombo 

John  Hanne^  of  Cardinham    . 

Margaret  Hayman's  Annuity  out  of  St.  Maw- 

gan  in  Pydre 
John  Pearse,  of  St.  Mawgan  in  Pydre 
William  Rawe^  estate  in  Pillaton^  in  possession 

of  John  Pickard 
Mary  Evans^  estate  in  Pydre^  in  possession  of 

William  Pearse 
John  Pearse^  of  St.  Ervan 
Julian  Pearse^  of  ditto    . 
John  Randal^  of  St.  Mawgan  in  Pydre 
Henry  Lord  Arundell    . 
John  Hussey,  !E!sq. 
Richard  Crossmaa^  of  Cardinham    . 

N.B.  The  blanks  had  not  yet  registered  their  estates. 


JE737  2  2i 

67  11  7 

5  10  0 

104  6  4 

9  19  10 

5  0 
241  9 

4  16 

0 
4 
0 

17  10 
23  0 

0 
0 

16  0 

0 

17  0 
67  0 
22  0 

18  0 

0 
0 
0 
0 

97  18  10 


Devonshire. 

Hugh  Lord  Clifford £596 

WiUiam  Salisbury^  of  Alwington             .        .17 
Edward  Southcote,  of  Bliboro'^co.  Lincoln,  Esq.    231 
William  Thorold,  of  Little  Panton,  in  co.  Lin- 
coln, Esq. 55 


7 

0 

13 


44 

0 
8 


0    0 


♦  The  property  of  W.  Plowden,  I  imagine,  was  partly  at  Trelask,  in 
Lewanick  parish,  and  partly  at  Upton,  in  St.  Winnows,  and  Carhays 
St.  Michaers.    It  had  belonged  to  the  Trevanions. 


170 


REPORT   TO   GOVERNMENT 


Wm.  Hall^Covent  Garden,  Middlesex^  grocer    .  £24  0  0 

Margaret  Green,  of  Elworthy,  spinster    .         .  30  4  0 

Edward  Gary,  of  Tor  Abbey,  Esq.   .         .         .  812  17  10 

Edward  Blount,  of  Blagdon,  Esq.    .         .         .  175  8  7i 

William  Culcheth,*  of  King's  Teignton  .         .  12  4  10 

Henry  Lord  Arundell 124  6  0 

George  Arundell,  of  Croscombe       .         .         .  7  15  3 

GilesChichester,  of  Arlington,  Esq.         .         .  124  6  0 

Clement  Tattershall,  of  Paignton,  Gent.           .  30  7  9 

Jane  Tattershall,  of  King's  Kerswell       .         .  80  0  0 
Henry  Tattershall,  of  Paignton 

Laurence  Tattershall,  of  Berry  Pomeroy,  Gent.  87  0  0 

Thomas  Tucker^  of  Newton  St.  Cyres      .         .  10  0 

Mary  Coughton,  of  Arlington,  widow      .         .  33  0  0 

John  Snow,  of  Berry  Narber           .         .         .  29  0  0 

Thomas  Bowe,  of  Staverton    .         .         •         .  47  0  0 

Osmond  Mordaunt,  of  Stoke  Fleming     .         .  45  0  0 

Frances  Kirkham,  of  Newton  St.  Cyres  ,         .  220  6  2i 

Thomas  Cranmer,  of  W.  Teignmouth,  cooper  5  5  0 


Dorset. 

John  Hussey,  of  Marnhull,  Esq. 
George  Arundell,  of  Benville,  Gent.f 
John  Arundell,  of  Netherbury,  G^nt. 
Henry  Lord  Arundell,  Baron  of  Wardour 
Stephen  Peck,  of  Stower  Provost,  yeoman 
Jeffry  Lodder,  of  ditto    .... 
George  Penn,  of  Weston,  Esq. 
Martin  Lodder,  of  Stower  Provost,  yeoman 
Rebecca  Hussey,  of  Marnhull,  widow 


140  0  7 

94  0  0 

45  0  0 
284  6  4i 

3  15  0 

269  0  4 

46  0  0 


*  He  was  great  grandfather  of  the  present  Parmenas  Pearce,  of 
Teignbridge,  Esq.  He  was  of  the  ^ood  old  family  at  Culcheth,  co. 
Lancashire,  which  estate,  by  the  marriage  of  Melior,  an  heiress,  passed  to 
the  Diconsons  and  Scarisbricks.  By  his  wife,  Clara  Giffard,  who  had 
died  three  months  before  him  (he  died  10th  December,  1739),  he  left  three 
children, — Thomas,  who  died  coelebs  at  Newton  Abbot  SOth  December, 
1769  ;  Clara,  who  married  Mr.  James  Puddicombe  ;  and  William,  who 
married,  on  21st  June,  1764,  Jane  Coleman,  and  died  17th  September, 
1801,  eet.  eighty-three,  leaving  Mary,  an  only  child,  who  married  Par- 
menas Pearce,Esq.,  SOth  November,  1795.  Dying  20th  December,  1841, 
in  the  fortieth  year  of  her  widowhood,  she  is  represented  by  her  only 
surviving  son,  Parmenas,  born  lOth  February,  1798. 

t  I  observed,  in  the  parochial  register  of  Whitchurch  Canonicorum, 
to  which  Chidiock  is  a  daughter  church,  that  George  Arundell,  of 
Netherbury,  had  been  buried  at  Chidiock  20th  April,  1682,  and  Mary 
Arundell,  of  ditto,  gentlewoman,  was  buried  at  Chidiock  6th  Novem- 
ber, 1080. 


OF   CAflTHOUC    PB0PKRTY. 


171 


Bartholomew  Keepers^  of  Langhom,  yeoman 
Martin  Biddlecombe^  of  Merrjtown,  Hants 
Alice  Petwin,  of  Watleton,  oo.  Oxford,  spinster 
Jcihn  Early,  of  Mannington,  yeoman 
Mary  Strickland,  of  Canford  Magna,  widow 
Elizabeth  Frampton,  of  Kingston,  widow 
Mary  Bndden,  of  Longham,  spinster 
Winifred  Wareham,  of  St.  Andrew's,  Holbom, 

estate  at  Croscombe,  occupied  by  F.  Allen 
George  Harcourt,  of  Xlake,  yeoman 
Edward  Brown,  of  Bradpole,  yeoman 
Thomas  Daniel,^  of  Chidiock,  yeoman 
John  Mullins,  charged  under  Somersetshire 
John  Colmer,  of  Chidiock,  yeoman 
Anne  Freke,  of  Chidiock,  widow 
Barbara  Develin,  of  Chidiock 
John  Wakely,  of  ditto,  yeoman 
Elizabeth  Copthome,  of  ditto 
Francis  Norris,  of  ditto,  yeoman 
Ann  Mayrs,  of  ditto 
Edward  Matthews,  of  ditto 
Richard  Orchard,  of  Yenbay,  yeoman 
Honourable  Charles  Stourton 
Thomas  Knipe,  of  Sembly,  co.  Wilts 
Dorothy  Bams,  of  Stourton,  widow 
Henry  Wall  .... 

William  Lodder,  of  Stour  Provost  . 
Gilbert  Lodder,  of  ditto,  blacksmith 
Thomas  Wilkins,  of  Tisbury,  Gent. 
James  Prim,  or  Trim,  of  Moorton  . 
Thomas  Champion,  of  Sutton,  Gent. 
Margaret  Lacy       .... 

Jane  Lacy 

Jane  Strode,  estate  of  Stoke  Abbas 
Denny  Metch,  of  Over  Moigne,  yeoman 
James  Browne,  of  Wells,  Mercer    . 
John  Brown,  of  Bothenhampton 
Mary  Brown  .... 

Mary  White,  of  Bradpole,  widow    . 
Richard  ArundcU,  of  Lanheme,  Esq. 
Henry  Wells,  of  Brambridge,  Hants 


.  £  8 

0 

0 

.   20  15 

0 

18 

5 

0 

.   24 

0 

0 

.   30 

0 

0 

.   10 

0 

0 

4 

8 

8 

\      77  10 

0 

7 

0 

0 

2 

10 

0 

46 

6 

0 

.*   10 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

.   15 

0 

0 

28 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

39 

0 

0 

.   15 

0 

0 

2 

5 

0 

12 

0 

0 

.   27 

6 

0 

3 

9 

0 

.   30 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

11 

0 

0 

\        4 

5 

0 

.   14 

0 

0 

40 

0 

0 

6  10 

0 

.   10 

0 

0 

.   82  10 

9i 

16  10 

0 

.   31 

15 

0 

8 

10 

0 

.   10 

0 

0 

.   10 

0 

0 

.  256 

1 

0 

1 

6 

6 

*  At  the  east  end  of  Chidiock  charchyard  is  an  altar  tomb  to  the 
parents  of  this  Thomas  Daniel.  His  father,  Thomas  Daniel,  had  died 
9th  January,  1670,  let.  sixty-six ;  his  wife  Margaret  survived  until 
dOth  January,  1680,  O.S.,  sDt.  eiehty-nine.  They  must  have  witnessed 
the  siege  and  dismantling  of  Chidiock  Castle. 


172 


&EPOBT  TO   OOVERNUENT 


Humphry  Weld^  of  LuUworth  Castle,  Esq. 
Agatha  Morgan,  of  Stower  Provost,  widow 
Sir  Joha  Webb,  of  Great  Canford,  Bart. 
Mary  Long,  of  Mumphin,  co.  Wexford,  widow 
Richard  Oold,  of  Odstock 
Elizabeth  Clarke,  of  Motcombe,  spinster 
Eleanor  Wilson,  of  Bridzor,  widow 
Henry  Lacy,  of  Wardour,  Gent. 
Isabella  Brayne,  of  Swillets,  widow 


£S46    2    21 


1,030 
339 

7 


17 

2 

10 


16 
40 


6 
1 
0 


0 
0 


Somerset. 

John  Acton,  of  E[indley,  oo.  Lancaster    . 

Henry  Lord  Arundell 

Mary  Barnes,  of  Stourton,  spinster 

Walter  Barnes,  of  Bode  in  Gasper,  Gent. 

Francis  Came,  of  Bath,  Gent. 

Francis  Cottington,  of  Fonthill  GHfford,  Esq. 

Margaret  Coffin,  of  North  Cadbury 

Thomas  Clifford,  of  Cannington,  Esq. 

John  Cottington,  of  Goodmanstor,  Esq. 

Thomas  Davies,  of  Stower  Provost,  Gent. 

Mary  Evans,  of  Wells,  spinster 

Charles  Fairfax,  of  York,  Esq. 

William  Gillder,  of  Chidiock,  Dorset,  Gent. 

Dorothy  Green,  estate  at  Willet,  in  the  parish 

ofElworthy 

Margaret  and  Mary  Green,  of  Willet 
Gabriel  Green,  of  Morchard  Bishop,  Devon 
John  Hussey,  of  Mamhull,  Dorset,  Esq. 
Margaret  Harvey,  of  Waves  Wotton,  co.  War. 

wick,  widow       .        .         .         . 
John  Horton,  of  Woolverton,  Gtent. 
Samuel  James,  of  East  Harptree     . 
Thomas  Knoyle,  of  Sampford  Orias 
William  Knight,  of  Cannington 
(George  Kenton,  of  Shepton  Mallett 
John  Molins,  of  Bishop's  Hull,  Gent. 
Joseph  Pearoe,  of  Wells,  inn-holder 
Elias  Pearce,  of  Wells,  baker 
Anne  Poyntz,  estate  at  Carhampton 
William  Richardson,  of  Gasper 
Robert  Rowe,  of  Leighland,  Esq.    . 
Samuel  Richard,  of  Holwell,  Esq.,  and  his  wife 

Elizabeth 

John  Stibbs,  of  Bath,  Gent.  . 


0 
6 
2 


37  6  0 

246  0  0 

20  0 

0  4 

103  19 
60  0  0 
23  0  0 

375  17  0 

120  3  7 

3  10  0 

208  2  4 
60  0  0 
88  0  0 

8  0  0 

16  0  Oi 
0  19  0 

31  2  6 

50  0  0 

209  6  7 

2  11  6 

17  0  0 
100  0  0 

8  10  0 

104  5  2 
20  0  0 
22  0  6 
54  0  0 

3  0  0 
323  1  8i 

246  0  0 

45  2  0 


66  0 
199  4 

0 
8 

23  8 

2  0 

10  19 

18  0 

0 
0 

1 
0 

0  2 
380  15 

0 

4i 

16  0 
200  0 

0 
0 

OF  CATHOLIC   PROPERTY.  178 

Thomas  Stourton^  estate  at  Bonham        .         .    £74    8    4 
Edward   Southcote^  £sq.^  of  Bliborough^  co. 

Lincoln^  Esq.  

Humphry  Steere,  estate  at  Sandford 

John  ancl  Maud  Stodden^  of  Shiverton  Sto- 

gursey 28 

Joice  Shephard,  of  Weston^  juxta  Bath^  spinster 
John  Taunton,  of  West  Ly  dford,  mercer 
John  Taunton,  estate  of,  Bedminster 
Thomas  Taunton,  of  West  Lydford,  yeoman  . 
Henry  Wall,  of  Stourton  .... 
James  Lord  Waldegrave  .... 
Margaret  Woolmer,    estate    at  Burcott,   St. 

Cuthbert's  parish 

Henry  Waldegrave,  Esq.,  annuity  . 

Wiltshire. 

Mary  Anne  (Q.  Hanne  ?),  of  Sutton  Mande- 
ville  ....... 

Henry  Lord  Arundell,  of  Wardour  .  1 

Richard  Bruning,  of  Winchester,  Gent.  . 

George  Brookman,  of  Ansty,  yeoman  or  weaver 

Mary  Butt,  of  Bridzor  .... 

Francis  Cottington,  of  Fonthill  Gifford,  Esq.  . 

Gaynor  Cruise,  of  Wootton  Bassett,  widow 

Edward  Gary,  of  Tor  Abbey,  Esq.   . 

Elizabeth,  Countess  Dowager  of  Castlehaven   . 

Francis  Came,  of  Bath,  Gent. 

Anne  Cruise,  of  Greenhill,  widow   . 

Mary  Coffin,  of  Stourton,  widow     . 

JohnCottington,  of  Goodmanston,  co.  Somerset, 
Esq.  .         :         .         .         .         . 

Thomas  Champion,  of  Sutton  Mandeyille,  lea- 
ther-cutter   

John  Dancastle,  of  Binfield,  Berks,  Gent. 

William  Estcoiui;,  of  Bumham,  Esq. 

Edward  Famhill,  of  Fonthill  GifFard,  Gent.     . 

John  Hussey,  of  MamhuU,  co.  Dorset,  Esq.    . 

John  Horton,  of  Woolverton,  co.  Somerset, 
Gent 

John  Haylock,  of  Tisbury       .... 

Matthew  Haylock,  of  Bridzor 

Mary  Jenkins,  of  Wardour  Castle,  spinster 

Susannah  Kenyon,  of  Bath,  widow  . 

John  King,  of  Warblington,  Hants,  yeoman    . 


44  10 

0 

,396  18 

3 

6  16 

8 

1  12 

0 

3  0 

0 

795  4 

8 

64  0 

0 

560  13 

6 

537  12  10 

11  0 

0 

30  0 

0 

50  0 

0 

110  0 

0 

6  16 

0 

94  0 

0 

224  9 

0 

28  0 

0 

2  5 

4 

0  5 

4 

20  0 

0 

15  10 

0 

19  0 

0 

20  0 

0 

10  0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

174  REPORT  TO  GOVERNMENT 

Thomas  Elnype^  of  Semley      ....  £24 

George  Knype,  of  Semley       ....  30 

Abigail  Kyngsmill^  co.  Bucks^  widow      .         .  100 
Jefiry  Lodder,  or  Lodge,  of  Stower  Provost, 

yeoman      .         , 30 

Richard  Lee,  of  Hasledoa 68 

James  Morgan,  of  St.  Giles's,  annuity  out  of 

Ansty  mansion 20    0    0 

William  Moore,  of  St.  Giles's,  co.  Middlesex, 
estate  of  Hedington,  in  possession  of  Anthony 

Brook 130    2    6 

Anne  Perkins,  from  Cheesegrove  estate,  in  pos- 
session of  William  Green    ....  7 
Thomas  Bippen,  or  Pippin,  of  Bridzor,  yeoman  13 
Bartholomew  Smith,  of  Winchester,  Esq.         .  12 
Mary  Watson,   of   Bestford,   co.  Worcester, 

spinster 20 

Catherine  Watson,  of  ditto     ....  100 

Charles  Woolmer,  of  Fonthill  Giffard,  Gent,   .  15 

Thomas  Wells,  of  Brambridge,. Hants,  Gent.   .  200 

John  Wright,  of  Kelvedon  Hall,  Essex,  Esq.  .  12 

Simon  White,  of  Wardour  Castle   ...  20 

Cecil  Wilson,  of  Bridzor         ....  52 

Eleanor  Wilson,  of  ditto,  widow      ...  12 

Sir  John  Webbe,  of  Great  Canford,  Dorset     .  405 

Gloucestershire. 

Rowland  Bartlett 220 

Richard  Bartlett             .         .         .         .         .  2 
Anne  Bartlett        .         ...         .         .         .50 

Richard  Blore 1 

Mary  Bubb   .         ....         .  .24 

Margaret,  Mary,  Frances,  Conquest,  and  Eli- 
zabeth Brent      .         .         .         ...         .  457 

Mary  Cassy 42 

Francis  Canning 50 

Charles  Eyston 197 

James  Fermour 80 

Richard  Fermour 200 

Margaret  Oreen  wood 75 

Charles  Greenwood 73 

Giles  Harding 10 

Anne  Hinde 31 

Matthias  Harris 4 

Jane  Hvnson 1 


10 

0 

15 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

10 

6 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

0 

10 

2 

0 

0 

13 

4. 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

0 

12 

4 

19 

4 

0 

0 

4 

8 

5 

0 

16 

8 

0 

0 

7 

6 

0 

0 

OP   CATHOLIC   PROPERTY.  175 

Benedict  Hall £680 

John  Jemegan                ....                  .  814 

Francis  Jemegan 80 

Anthony  Kemp 215 

John  Latham 18 

Richard  Latham 6 

Ann  Dame  Litcott 91 

John  Moore 284 

Robert  Needham 8 

Thomas  Neville  and  wife         ....  1,162 

John  Paston 727 

William  Reeves 25 

Mary  Shirman 2 

Edward  Sheldon ] 

Anne  Simons 28 

Earl  of  Stafford* 350 

Mary  Smith 50 

Ann  Stafford 140 

Sarah  Trinder 26 


12 

0 

1 

4 

0 

0 

19 

9 

13 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

12 

0 

6 

0 

14 

8 

6 

2 

0 

0 

15 

0 

0 

8i 

0 

0 

14 

Oi 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

*  This  must  have  been  Henry  Howard,  son  of  William,  Viscount 
Stafford,  legally  murdered  for  Gates's  ^lot,  on  21)th  December,  1680, 
set.  sixty-eifi[ht.  King  James  II.,  in  consideration  of  his  father's  suffer- 
ings ana  noble  descent,  on  5th  October,  1688,  created  this  Henry,  earl 
of  Stafford,  with  remainder,  for  want  of  issue  male,  to  his  brothers  John 
and  Francis,  and  their  issue  male  respectively.  On  his  death,  in  April, 
1719,  s.p,^  the  earldom  descended  to  his  nephew  William,  the  son  of 
John,  by  his  wife  Ann  Holman.  This  second  earl  died  in  France, 
January,  1734,  leaving  an  only  son  and  heir,  William  Matthias :  he 
died,  *./>.,  in  February,  1761,  when  the  title  devolved  on  his  uncle  John 
Paul,  at  whose  death,  1st  April,  1762,  set.  sixty-two,  without  issue 
male,*  the  viscounty  and  earlaom  of  Stafford  ended  with  him  ;  but  the 
barony  of  Stafford  was  claimed  by  Sir  William  Jerningham,  of  Cossey, 
Bart.,  as  lineally  descended  from  the  Lady  Anastasia,  the  fifth  sister  of 
the  first  earl :  and  after  much  unreasonable  delay,  the  House  of  Lords^ 
on  the  6th  of  July,  1825,  resolved,  that  Sir  George  Jerningham,  son 
and  heir  olthe  late  Sir  William  (who  had  died  14th  August,  1809),  had 
fully  made  out  his  claim  to  the  title,  dignity,  and  honour  of  Baron 
Stafford.  Our  readers  are  aware  that  the  said  Lady  Anastasia  married 
George  Holman,  of  Wark worth,  co.  Northampton,  Esq., — that  William, 
the  second  Earl  Stafford,  married  his  first  cousin,  Anne,  daughter 
to  George  Holman,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  the  Lady  Anastasia, — that  his 
sister  Mary  married  Francis  Plowden,  Esq., — and  that  their  daughter 
and  heir,  Mary  Plowden,  married  in  17di3  Sir  Geoive  Jerningham,  Bart., 
the  mother  of  Sir  William  and  grandmother  of  Sir  Greorge  Jerning- 
ham, the  seventh  baronet,  who  established  his  claim  to  the  barony  of 
Stafford. 

*  His  lady,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  St.  Albyn,  of  Alfoxton,  co. 
Somerset,  Esq.,  survived  her  lord  until  25th  January,  1783.  The  reader 
will  be  edified  and  delighted  with  the  account  of  her  conversion  in  the 
Memoires  of  La  Motte,  Bishop  of  Amiens,  vol.  ii.  p.  95. 


176  REPORT  TO  GOVERNMENT^   ETC. 

Charles  Trinder £26    9  0 

John  Talbot 65     0  0 

John  Yaughan 41  14  8 

JohnVaughan 171     0  0 

John  Wright 81     8  lOJ 

Joseph  Wakeman 39    0  0 

Henry  Wall 47    5  0 

Benedict  Wakeman 875  15  8 

Henry  Wakeman 40    0  0 

John  Webster 795    9  6 


177 


CHAPTER  XVL 

TABLS8  or  S17CCB88IOX   OF  TBB   INCUMBBNTS   OP  THB   PRINCIPAL 
MISSIONS   IN   THB  COUNTIBS   AFORESAID. 

In  the  days  of  persecution,  when  the  pastors  were  afraid 
of  keeping  registers,  lest  they  might  furnish  evidence  of  their 
priesthood,  and  imperil  those  who  harboured  them — ^wheu 
the  clergy  could  have  little  intercourse  with  each  other,  and 
bishops  could  but  seldom  perform  their  visitations,  the 
wonder  ceases,  that  it  is  such  a  difficult  task  to  make  out 
the  succession  of  our  Catholic  incumbents.  Most  of  the 
regular  and  secular  clergy  were  private  chaplains;  some 
were  itinerant  missionaries  over  a  wide  extent  of  country^ 
without  any  fixed  abode — shepherds  to  use  the  words  of  the 
Prophet  Ezekiel  (xxxiv.  12)  ''to  seek  out  the  sheep  and 
deliver  them  out  of  all  places,  where  they  have  been  scattered 
in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day.''  In  vain  have  I  attempted  to 
form  out  the  list  of  incumbents  at  Lanheme,  Arlington, 
Stourton,  Hatherop,  Canford,  and  several  other  ancient 
missions;  and  for  the  present  must  be  contented  to  enrol 
what  disjointed  names  I  can  recover,  in  the  second  and  Bio^ 
graphical  part  of  this  feeble  compilation. 

1.  Incumbents  of  Axminsler. 

In  page  26  I  have  given  the  origin  of  this  mission. 

1.  Rev.  William  Sutton,  after  thirty-two  years'  residence, 
died  here  23rd  January,  1800.  See  his  Biography  in  the 
second  part. 

2.  Messrs.  le  Blaise  and  le  Mare,  two  French  imigrisy 
divided  the  pastoral  duty  between  them,  until  the  treaty  of 
Amiens,  25th  March,  1802;  soon  after  which  they  returned  to 
France. 

8.  VAhbi  de  la  Brecque  succeeded.  Ob.  3rd  February, 
1819,  set.  sixty-nine. 

4.  Sev.  Charles  Haly,  from  2nd  July,  1819,  until  his 
resignation,  5th  September,  1821. 

5.  Cornelius  Magraih,  who  left  at  Midsummer,  1824. 

6.  Robert  Piatt  arrived  on  1st  October,  1824;  was  trans- 
ferred to  Lanheme  at  Christmas,  1826. 


178  TABLES  OP  SUCCESSION   OF   INCUMBENTS. 

7.  Jonathan  Purtong  supplied  till  Michaelmiis^  1827* 

8.  Robert  Gates  followed  until  August,  1828. 

9.  Henry  BUey  from  29tli  August,  1828,  until  he  left, 
28th  April,  1884,  to  take  charge  of  the  Plymouth  mission. 
He  opened  the  new  chapel  of  St.  Mary  on  the  feast  of  the 
Assumption,  1831. 

10.  John  Larkan  arrived  on  2Sth  April,  1834;  but  on 
17th  July  next  ensuing  was  ordered  to  Torquay. 

11.  Charles  FUher,  who  had  arrived  on  17th  July,  1834, 
was  o£f  to  Lyme  in  the  first  week  of  October  following. 

12.  Peter  (TLouffhlin  foUowed  on  8th  October,  1834,  but 
Irom  iU  health  waa  obliged  to  leave  before  Christmas-day  that 
year. 

13.  John  Ahyriue  Gregory  Swabrick  arrived  from  Christmas, 
1884 ;  but  quitted  for  Lyme,  when  he  was  replaced  by 

14.  Henry  Norrington,  on  27th  October,  1887.  This  ex- 
eellent  priest  died  here  on  8th  December,  1848,  let  forty. 

15.  Patrick  Kelly  came  to  Axminster  2nd  January,  1849, 
fmd  quitted  at  the  end  of  a  twelvemonth  fcnr  Salisbury. 

16.  Francis  Keary  served  from  iStoA  March,  1850,  until 
he  left,  12tb  October,  1861. 

17.  Chwrle$  Cook  airived  17th  July,  1851,  and  continued 
for  seven  months  only, 

18.  Thomas  Lynch,  bom  at  Loughree,  Galway,  in  1802; 
was  ordained  at  Maynooth  in  1829 :  after  serving  Spetisbnry 
and  Salisbury,  became  the  incumbent  of  Axminster  on  10th 
September,  1852,  and  took  congi  on  26th  July,  1855.  He 
returned,  however,  on  10th  November,  but  quitted  cm  2Bd 
February,  1856,  to  settle  in  his  own  country,  at  Shinrone. 

19.  Rev.  John  Toohey,  who  had  served  Bodmin  from  the 
Lanheme  Convent  during  a  year  and  eight  months,  reached 
Axminster  on  Saturday  15th  March,  1856. 

2.  Bath. 
Of  this  Benedictine  Mission  ab  initio,  {he  first,  I  believe. 


1.  F.  Anselm  Williams,  see  page  55. 

2.  F.  Bernard  Quin. 

8.  JP*.  WilUam  Bannister,  who  died  16th  May,  1726. 

4.  F.  Prands  Brumng, 

5.  Bight  Rev,  Jhr.  Laurence  York,  1  think,  from  1732  to 
1745. 

6.  F.  Ansebn  Bradshaw,  for  twelve  years. 

7.  F.  Placid  Naylor,  for  nineteen  years. 

8.  Dr.  John  Bede  Brewer,  for  five  years. 


tkVUI^  6P  0COCB8tnKm  C>P  IKtilTMBBllTS.  179 

9.  R  Michael  Pembridge,  who  was  aUowed  an  assistant 
priest  by  the  chapter. 

10.  F.  Ralph  Ainsworth  was  chief  pastor  fix>in  1 796  to  1814. 

11.  F.  James  CaUerbonk,  upwards  of  three  ye4r*. 

12.  RiffU  Rev.  Dr.  AuguHine  BahieB,  from  July  1817 
until  his  episcopal  consecration^  Ist  May,  1823. 

18.  Rev.  Thomas  Brindled  for  six  years. 

14.  F.  Ralph  Mauma  Cooper,  from  1830  to  1846. 

15.  F.  John  Jerome  Jenkins,  to  1850. 

16.  John  Clement  WarMy,  from  1860. 

9.  iFbr  the  Bristol  Mission,  seepage  108. 

4.  Chidiock. 

1.  F.  nomas  Pilchard,  martyred  21st  March,  1587. 

2.  F.  John  Cornelius,  8  J.,  martyred  4ih  July,  1594. 
8.  F.  Hugh  Oreen,  martyred  19th  August,  1642. 

4.  F. Higgs. 

6.  F.  ffilUam  Byfleet,  tiias  Gildon,  O.B.B4  Thisvraerable 
man,  at  the  age  of  100,  suffered  the  amputation  of  a  leg :  at 
the  age  of  102  he  baptized,  at  Chidiock,  the  late  Thomas 
Taunton,  Esq.,  bom  9th  June,  1745.  fletiring  to  Bonham^ 
the  patriarchal  priest  died  there  19th  October,  1746. 

6.  Richard  ShimeU*  died  at  Chidiock  in  December,  1763» 
St.  seveiri^-six. 

7.  PhilyB  Conxion  served  Chidiock  twenty-five  years. 

8.  Thomiu  Lewis,  8 J.,  altogether  twenly-three  years, 
until  his  death  5th  September,  1809,  set.  sixty-nine. 

9.  Thomas  TUbmy,  from  14th  November^  1809,  till  20th 
NoTcmber,  1840. 

10.  mUiam  Peter  Bond  quitted  for  Hobart  Town  with 
Bishop  Willson  29th  January,  1844. 

11.  F.  Robert  Plait  suppli^  until  October,  1844. 

12.  J^.  John  Ryan  succeeded — opened  the  new  chapel  at 
Bridport  on  2nd  July,  1846 ;  quitted  in  November,  1850. 

la.  F.  Henry  O'Shea,  O.SJl 

14.  F.  J.  J.  Gallagher. 

15.  F.  Basil  Thomas,  O.3.B.,  reached  early  in  1853,  but 
died  7th  September,  1853,  set.  thirty-nine. 

16.  F.  Jviffiid  Price,  O.8.B.,  ordained  priest  at  Ample- 
forth  December^  1849. 

17.  F.  Placidus  Sinnett,  O.S.B.,  in  1855. 

*  I  am  credibly  informed  that  his  nephew,  the  Rev.  Charles  Shimell, 
had  assisted  him,  and  even  succeeded  nim,  but  died  of  a  rapid  decline 
at  the  Bear  Inn,  Exeter,  in  April,  1764. 

N   2 


180  TABLES  OP  SUCCESSION   OF   INCUMBENTS. 


5.  Exeter. 

After  the  death  of  F.  Richard  Norris^  S.  J.  mentioned  in 
page  25^  all  that  I  glean  ia,  that  the  handful  of  the  faithful 
here  were  occasionally  visited  by  some  zealous  itinerant 
missionaiy  charged  with  the  care  of  a  considerable  portion 
of  Devon.  One  old  man  of  the  name  of  John  Flood,  a 
convert  in  1745,  informed  me,  fully  forty-six  years-  ago,  that 
he  remembered  the  Rev.  Messieurs  Rigby,  Hussey,  Williams, 
Parry,  and  Sutton,  performing  divine  service.  At  length, 
about  the  year  1763,  F.  William  Gillibrand,  S.J.,  was  ap- 
pointed a  resident  incumbent,  and  took  up  his  quarters  with  a 
Mr.  Truscott  in  the  island ;  the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the 
gas-works.  I  have  seen  a  letter  of  his,  dated  Exeter, 
14th  January,  1765.  He  was  still  in  Exeter  in  1768. 
F.  Anthony  Carroll,  S.J.,  succeeded  him  for  about  two 
years;  then  F.  Joseph  Barron,  S.J.,  who  left  in  1772  for 
Arlington,  when  the  Rev.  John  Edisford  followed.  Shortly 
after  his  arrival  he  took  a  lease,  at  Christmas,  1775,  of 
Mr.  Abraham  Gibbs'  premises  in  the  Mint,  which  he 
finally  ajgreed  to  purchase  on  23rd  July,  1788.  By  the  aid 
of  public  and  private  subscriptions  the  purchase  money, 
iS400,  was  paid.  A  public  chapel  in  the  garden  was  then 
considered  and  resolved  on.  Mr.  Edisford  assisted  at  the 
deliberations  of  the  committee  on  19th  August,  1788 ;  2nd 
September,  1788 ;  4th  May,  1789 ;  but  on  the  20th  November 
following  he  was  snatched  away  by  death,  aged  fifty-one, 
leaving  a  surplus  of  about  £400,  subscribed  towards  the  con- 
templated chapel. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  committee,  on  3rd  March, 
1790,  at  which  the  Rev.  Joseph  Reeve  of  Ugbrooke  presided, 
the  Rev.  William  Poole,  S.J.,  the  newly-arrived  successor  to 
the  late  Mr.  Edisford,  was  duly  introduced  as  a  member. 
On  6th  May  the  foundation-stone  of  the  chapel  was  laid. 
Mass  was  first  celebrated  xa  it  on  the  feast  of  the  Epiphany, 
1792.  On  Father  Poole's  quitting  Exeter  in  January,  1807, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Lewis  was  transferred  from  Chidiock  to 
Exeter.  He  continued  to  ofSciate  here  until  October  of  that 
year,  when  he  was  relieved  by  the  collector  of  these  memo- 
randa ;  who,  after  forty-four  years  of  missionary  service,  was 
replaced  by  the  Rev.  James  Austin  Eccles,  S.J. 

'^Benedic,  Domine,  fortitudini  ejus,  ct  opera  manuum 
illius  suscipe/'--(Deuteron.  xxxiii.  11.) 


TABLB8  OF   SUCCESSION   OF   INCUMBENTS,  181 

6.  Falmauih,  page  30. 

1.  Rev.  William  IgnatitLS  Casemore,  O.8.F.,  arrived  in 
January^  1805,  and  was  incambcDt  for  thirteen  years,  when  he 
resigned,  and  retiring  to  Coxside,  Plymouth,  there  died, 
29th  November,  1824,  set.  seventy-three. 

2.  UAbbi  Grezille,  alias  Hoche,  arrived  6th  August,  1818, 
opened  the  new  chapel  24th  October,  1821 ;  and  dying 
17th  August,  1822,  was  buried  therein. 

3.  Thaddaus  CfMeally  arrived  to  succeed  the  Abbe,  and 
continued  one  twelvemonth. 

4.  Peter  Hartley  followed,  coming  from  Chepstow,  and 
served  the  place  until  March,  1827,  when  he  was  ordered  to 
Poole. 

5.  Robert  Gates  resided  here  from  Lady-day,  1827,  until 
13th  September,  1828,  when  he  went  to  Axminster. 

6.  Robert  Piatt  arrived  8th  September,  1827,  but  left  for 
Swansea  in  January,  1831. 

7.  Maurice  &  Connor^  then  tried  it  for  a  twelvemonth, 
when  F.  Robert  Piatt  was  appointed  again,  and  remained  in 

Sossession  until  Saturday,  17th  June,  1843,  when  the  Re- 
emptorists  came    in  to  serve  the  missions;  but  on  1st 
September,  1848,  they  quitted  it  altogether  for  Clapham.^ 
Since  their  depstrture,  there  has  been  a  rapid  passage  of 
incumbents,  as  FF.  Michael  Carrol  and  John  Ryan. 
But  see  the  biographical  part. 

7.  Leighland,  see  p.  62. 

This  ancient  mission  was  certainly  served  chiefly  by 
Benedictines. 

F.  Richard  King,  alias  Scott,  was  chaplain  to  the  Poyntz 
family  here  at  his  death,  2nd  July,  1664. 

F.  Bernard  Millington  ended  his  days  attached  to  the 
family,  4th  August,  1667. 

Other  monks,  FF.  Joseph  Berriman,  Francis  Mildmay 
Richard  Isherwood,  Joseph  Hanmer,  or  Starkey,  Paul 
AUanson,  Anselm  Geary,  followed  in  succession;  but  I 
cannot  ascertain  their  length  of  services.  William  Anderson, 
a  Jesuit,  was  certainly  stationed  there  about  the  year  1750. 
The  venerable  monk,  F.  Bernard  WarmoU,  was  chaplain 
there  in  1754-5,  as  one  who  remembered  him  then  informed 
me.     He  was  followed  by  his  brother  Benedictines,  Alfred 

*  It  is  consoline  to  find  that  at  Easter,  1856,  at  their  church  of 
Clapharo,  they  haa  more  than  GOO  communicaiits,  and  that  their  poor- 
schools  were  well  attended. 


18)3  TABIiSB  OF  SUCCBSSiOM   OF   INCUMBCMTB. 

Strait^  Anselm  Bolton,  and  Maurua  Barrett.  Soon  after 
the  last-mentioned  left,  in  1767,  George  Clarkson,  a  Jesuit, 
arrived  there ;  but  when  he  left  for  Stapehill,  and  finally  for 
his  native  place,  Southill,  near  Chorley,  I  cannot  discover. 

I  remember  an  old  French  Abbe,  Monsieur  Renoult, 
coming  from  Leighland,  in  1808,  to  serve  Calverleigb,  where 
he  died,  14th  November,  1810;  but  he  was  not  a  person  to 
afford  much  information. 

8.  Plymauih,  p.  26. 

1.  F.  Edward  Williams,  whose  head-quarters  were  at 
Bearscombe,  the  seat  of  Richard  Chester,  Esq.,  in  the  parish 
of  Buckland  Tout  Saints,  was  long  in  the  habit  of  rendering 
occasional  assistance  to  the  faithful  in  Plymouth  and  its 
vicinity.     His  death  occurred  30th  January,  1776. 

2.  Bev,  George  Baudouin  was  then  appointed  to  that 
charge ;  but  he  was  so  alarmed  at  the  (xordon  riots  in  the 
summer  of  1780,  that  he  quitted  the  neighbourhood  alto* 
gether. 

3.  Rev,  Charles  Timings,  who  had  come  from  St.  Alban's 
College,  Yalladolid,  in  March,  1782,  paid  ministerial  visits  at 
Plymouth  before  the  arrival  of 

4.  F.  Thomas  Flynn,  a  gentleman  of  Herculean  strength 
and  vigour,  who  became  the  first  resident  incumbent.  About 
ten  years  later  he  resigned  his  charge,  in  February,  1803, 
to  proceed  to  Bardstown^  in  Kentuckv. 

5.  AbM  Jean  Louis  Guilbert,  an  emigri  from  Normandy, 
arrived  from  Shepton  Mallett,  to  administer  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  this  increasing  flock.  To  his  credit  be  it  said,  that 
he  boldly  undertook  to  lay  the  foundation-stone  of  St.  Mary's 
church  at  Stonehouse  on  28th  May,  1806,  which  was  opened 
for  public  worship  20th  December,  1807 ;  and  he  erected  the 
priest's  house  adjoining.  Towards  the  close  of  1815,  he 
resigned  his  pastoral  office  to  return  to  France,  where  he 
died  27th  July,  1822,  set.  fifty-nine. 

6.  Rev,  Samuel  Spooner  succeeded,  10th  December,  1815 ; 
but  quitted  at  the  end  of  four  years  and  eight  months. 
After  an  eccentric  life,  he  died  in  Londoii  8th  August,  1839^ 
and  was  buried  at  Mooxfields  Church. 

7.  L'Abb6  Alewandre  Simon  arrived  in  August,  1820;  bnt 
died  suddenly  of  apoplexy  on  6th  of  the  ensuing  April,  in  his 
fifty-first  year. 

8.  Thomas  Costello,  B.D.,  was  prevailed  upon  by  Bishop 
CoUingridge  to  accept  the  charge  in  April,  1821.  He  held 
it  imtS  1st  May,  1834,  when  he  resigned  it  to 


TJlBLCS  op  SUCCBSBION  Of  INC17MBBNT8.  183 

9.  Rev.  Henry  Biley,  under  wbose  efficient  management 
and  seal  the  numbers  so  increased^  that  he  obtained  a  coad^ 
jtttor^  first,  in  the  Rev.  Gteorge  Bampton,  who  began  his 
missionary  career  2l8t  October,  1842,  but  left  to  join  the 
Society  of  Jesus  2Srd  January,  1816 ;  and,  secondly,  the 
Bev.  Michael  Carroll,  who  arrived  two  davs  later.  From 
declining  health,  F«  Riley  bade  fareweu  to  Plymouth, 
4th  March,  1848,  and  died,  uniyersally  lamented,  ak  Spetia^ 
bury  on  Maundy  Thursday,  5th  April,  1849,  set.  fifty^fire. 

9.  Shortwood,  p.  61. 

Mr.  William  James,  of  East  Harptree,  was  a  wealthy 
grasier,  and  possessed  considerable  property  in  the  parish^ 
of  East  Harptree  and  Ninton  Bluett.  He  had  nired  a 
droTcr  in  Salisbury  market,  and  subsequently  noticing  that 
he  did  not  attend  the  parish  church,  but  often  enga^d  in 
his  devotions  in  the  out-buildings,  was  led  by  curiosity  to 
examine  his  books.  Their  perusal  induced  him  to  ask  ques- 
tions, and  he  became  so  edified  with  the  example  of  his 
faithful  Catholic  servant,  and  so  satisfied  with  his  explaniu* 
lions  and  instructions,  that  he  was  reconciled  to  the  Church 
of  God.  At  his  death,  about  the  year  1720,  he  left  three 
ehiklren,  who  were  brought  up  Catholics, — first,  William; 
second,  FhiUp,  who  died  cmkbs ;  third,  Elizabeth,  who  left 
no  issue. 

WilUam  James,  jun.  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Joseph  Beaumont,  a  good  Catholic,  residing  at  Wells,  and 
who  had  a  decent  property  at  Stone  Easton.  By  his  wife, 
a  Miss  Harding,  he  had  three  sons,  all  of  whom  took  to  the 
Church ;  John  was  a  Franciscan,  William  and  Joseph  became 
Jesuits,  and  of  them  more  will  be  found  in  the  biographical 
part.  Mr.  Beaumont,  by  his  will,  gave  his  Stone  Easton 
estate  to  his  grandson,  John  Hunt,  but  required  that  he 
should  assume  the  name  of  Beaumont.  Letters  patent  were 
obtained  to  this  effect  on  10th  March,  1775. 

Mr.  William  James  aforesaid  died  in  March,  1774^ 
leaving,  by  his  wife  Hannah  (Beaumont),  four  daughters, — 
iSixabeth,  married  to  Mr.  John  Hunt;  Hannah,  to  John 
Sanders  Tudor ;  Mary,  to  Mr.  Bichard  Trappd ;  and  Ann, 
who  married  the  Bev.  John  Brookes,  the  rector  of  Hinton 
Bluett. 

This  reverend  and  liberal-minded  gentleman  sold  the 
advowson  of  the  church  at  Hinton  Bluett  in  1804,  and  some 
time  after  embraced  the  Catholic  faith,  and  was  a  special 
benefactor  to  St.  MichaePs  mission  at  Shortwood.    His  wiQ 


18  (  TABLES  OF  SUCCESSION  OF  INCUMBENTS, 

bears  date  27th  April,  1824 ;  his  death  took  place  19th  May  of 
that  year,  set,  eighty-three,  and  his  mortal  remains  repose  in 
Hinton  Bluett  churchyard. 

I  now  proceed  to  give  the  list  of  its  incumbents ;  and  for 
their  biography  must  refer  the  reader  chiefly  to  the  second 
part  of  this  compilation. 

The  first,  I  believe,  was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hunt,  vere  Beau^ 
mont,  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Beaumont,  after  his 
father  had  changed  the  name  of  Hunt  for  Beaumont,  as 
already  mentioned.  He  reached  England,  after  his  educa- 
tion, and  receiving  orders,  in  March,  1795,  from  Douay,  and 
resided  until  1799  among  his  family  connections,  until  he 
accepted  the  mission  of  Usk,  which  he  served  for  three  years. 
He  was  then  prevailed  upon,  by  the  grand  vicar,  the  Bev. 
William  Coombes,  and  his  relatives,  to  come  and  settle  among 
them;  On  15th  May,  1806,  he  was  enabled  to  open  a 
chapel,  which  he  continued  to  serve  until  old  age  compelled 
him  to  resign  his  charge  in  March,  1838 ;  when  retiring  to 
Clifton,  he  finished  his  earthly  course  there  on  Ist  December 
of  that  year,  aged  seventy-six.  All  his  successors  must  hold 
memory  in  grateful  veneration. 

2.  John  Alayrius  Gregory  Swabrick  came  and  supplied 
for  about  a  month,  and  was  off  in  June,  1838. 

3.  John  Larkan,  after  running  the  gauntlet  of  missions  in 
the  Western  District  arrived  here  on  22nd  June,  1838,  and 
continued  until  19th  May,  1841. 

4.  James  Dawson  came  in  July,  1841 ;  but  left,  19th 
August,  1842. 

5.  Moses  Furhnff,  who  had  often  supplied  from  Prior 
Park  during  the  illness  and  absence  of  Mr.  Dawson,  now 
succeeded  him,  and  quitted  for  Lanheme,  12th  August,  1842. 

6.  Thomas  Danson  (alias  Douthwaite)  followed,  but  left 
27th  May,  1844. 

7.  Thomas  Tierney  Fergusson,  D.D.,  served  the  place  for 
about  three  months,  when  he  was  ordered  to  Tawstock^ 
3rd  October. 

8.  Patrick  Kelly  arrived  as  his  successor,  6th  October, 
1844,  and  left  within  a  twelvemonth. 

9.  Thomas  Francis  Booker  arrived  in  August,  1845,  and 
quitted  9t]i  March,  1862,  for  Bridgewater. 

10.  Thomas  M.  McDonnell  arrived  1st  April,  1852,  whom 
may  God  long  preserve  ! 


TABLS8  OF  BUCCESBION   OF   INCUMBENTS,  186 

10.  Taunton,  page  61. 

1.  Rev.  George  Baudouin,  died,  14th  May,  1818,  after  a 
residence  of  about  thirty-six  years. 

2.  Samuel  Fisher,  until  1822. 

3.  Adrian  Towers  from  Christmas,  1822,  to  July,  1830; 
and  again  from  1834,  until  the  autumn  of  1841. 

4.  Pierre  Chanteloup  served  between  the  first  and  second 
incumbency  of  F,  Towers,  with  the  exception  of  one  year, 
when, 

5.  Andrew  Byrne  supplied  from  1833  to  1834. 

6.  John  Fanning  arrived  16th  October,  1841 ;  after  nearly 
seven  years'  residence  was  solicited  by  the  bishop  to  take 
charge  of  Tiverton  for  two  years ;  but  returned  to  Taunton, 
his  first  mission,  vacant  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Fogarty,  for 
Christmas,  1850,  and  quitted  for  the  diocese  of  Birmingham 
on  30th  January,  1853. 

7.  Henry  &Shea,  1849. 

8.  John  Fogarty,  who  died  3rd  November,  1850,  aet. 
twenty-seven. 

9.  John  Mitchell  succeeded  F.  Fanning  in  January,  1853. 

11.  Tawstock  and  Barnstaple,  page  27. 

The  death  of  Sir  Bourchier  Wrey,  the  seventh  baronet  of 
his  family,  having  taken  place  on  20th  November,  1826,  set. 
seventy,  the  title  and  estate  descended  to  his  eldest  son, 
Bourchier,  by  his  first  wife,  Anne,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert 
Palk,  Bart.  This  young  gentleman  had  been  bom  at  Hatton 
House,  10th  December,  1788,  and  was  educated  for  the  bar. 
Having  married  a  Catholic  widow,  he  generously  afforded 
to  her,  and  to  his  children  by  her,  every  facility  to  exercise 
their  religion;  he  fitted  up  a  domestic  chapel  in  Tawstock 
House  for  their  use,  kept  a  chaplain  for  them,  and  provided 
a  poor-school  for  children  to  be  educated  in  the  Catholic 
fiftith.  Foreseeing  that  in  the  event  of  his  death  without 
male  issue,  the  entailed  estate  must  descend  to  his  Protestant 
heirs,  he  readily  assented  to  the  suggestion  of  his  zealous 
wife  to  provide  a  chapel  in  Barnstaple  itself  for  the  benefit 
of  Catholics  in  the  North  of  Devon.*  This  exemplary  lady, 
to  whom  religion  wiU  be  ever  indebted,  was  called  to  the 
reward  of  her  piety  on  23rd  July,  1842:  R.  I.  P.  Her 
liberal  husband  has  carried  all  her  wishes  into  effect ;  their 
eldest  daughter,  Helena  Carolina,  married  at  Tawstock,  on 

*  Since  the  above  was  written  I  am  happv  to  record,  on  the  baronet's 
own  authoritv,  tliat  he  was  received  into  the  Church  at  Dover,  by  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Savage,  on  15th  September,  1856. 


186  TtABLBS  OF  BUOOXflUON  OF  INClTilBBim. 

9th  August,  1838,  to  Edward  Joseph  Wdd,  the  heir-apparent 
to  Lullworth  Castle,  has  fully  entered  into  her  parent's  views; 
and  by  the  blessing  of  God,  and  the  unceasing  exertions  of 
their  present  chaplain,  Oanon  Brindle,  a  yery  handsome 
church  has  been  dedicated  on  the  24di  Octob^,  1856,  and 
solemnly  opened  on  the  ensuing  day  by  Archbishop 
Errington  and  Bishop  Yaughan,  assisted  by  nine  priests, 
amidst  a  yast  concourse  of  respectable  attendants.  Never 
did  Barnstaple  witness  such  a  spectade  before.  May  the 
word  of  God  increase,  and  the  number  of  disciples  greatly 
multiply,  and  many  of  the  ministers  become  ob^ent  to  the 
fiiith,  as  it  was  in  Jerusalem !   (Acts  yi.  7.) 

The  first  chaplain  at  Tawstock  House  was  the  Rev.  Peier 
Hartley,  who,  after  serving  Chepstow,  Falmouth,  and  Poole, 
arrived  at  Tawstock  in  July,  1827,  and  continued  his  services 
until  20th  November,  1829,  when  he  quitted  for  Weymouth* 
But  on  the  subsequent  resignation  of  his  successor  here,  he 
was  prevailed  upon  to  return  and  resume  his  pastoral  duties, 
from  the  latter  end  of  1882  until  the  July  following. 

The  2nd,  William  Aloysiua  (yMeara,  &omNovenu)er,  1829, 
to  July,  1831. 

The  3rd  was  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  who  officiated  from 
9th  July,  1881,  to  the  winter  of  1832,  when  F.  Hartley  was 
reinstated.  Mr.  Williams  resumed  the  charge  of  this 
mission  on  Dr.  Fergusson  leaving  it,  early  in  1846;  but 
finally  left  it  on  31st  May,  1849. 

4.  Maurice  (y  Connor  came  in  July,  1888;  but  hurried 
away  in  May,  1835,.  and  finished  his  course  in  Trinidad, 
December,  1840. 

6.  Leonard  Calderbank  was  incumbent  from  12th  June, 
1835,  to  20th  September  that  year. 

6.  Michael  Brancie  Crowe,  D.D.,  becune  the  pastor  of  this 
mission  20th  September,  1835,  and  so  continued  till  10th 
April,  1837.    He  was  the  first  to  commence  a  register. 

7.  Thomas  CosteUo,  then  at  Tiverton,  agreed  to  supply  from 
April,  1837,  until  June  following.  Subsequently,  on  22nd 
May,  1840,  at  the  earnest  invitati<Hi  of  his  old  friend  Lady 
Wrey,  whose  health  was  declining,  he  returned  to  Tawstock ; 
but  after  her  ladyship's  decease  went  back  to  Tiverton. 
See  his  biography  in  the  second  part  of  this  compilation. 

8.  Joseph  Dwyer  reached  Tawstock  21st  June,  1837,  but 
three  months  later  was  called  away  to  Thurles  to  assist  in 
the  organization  of  the  new  college ;  he  returned,  however, 
on  17th  April,  1838 ;  but  left  in  l^e  ensuing  spring  for  Bangor. 

9.  John  Larkan  was  sent  to  supply  firom  20th  September, 
1837,  to  20th  April  following. 


TABUS  OF  8UOCB88XON  OF  INGUMBXNT8.  187 

10.  WUHam  Cmeif  am?ed  from  Marnhall  6ih  April,  1889, 
until  18th  May,  1840,  to  return  to  his  former  mission. 

11.  Patrick  Kdly,  who  had  come  from  the  ClomfiBart  diocese 
on  a  yisit  to  the  TeneraUe  F.  Cootello,  became  his  assistant, 
and  fiofiUy  sooeessor.  This  reverend  gentleman  qoitted  on 
8rd  October,  1844,  for  Shortwood. 

12.  Thomas  Tieirneg  Fergmson,  !>./>.,  replaced  from  Short- 
wood  the  preceding  incumbent  on  6tii  October,  1844,  and 
served  here  for  the  best  part  of  two  years. 

18.  John  Lynch  supplied  for  six  weeks. 

14.  JT^sQiA  Kerin  had  char)$e  of  the  faithfol  from.  August, 
1849,  until  Februaiy,  1860. 

15.  Ra^h  Brindle,  after  serrfaig  Upton  for  ten  years,  took 
possession  ou  8th  February,  1850,  and  under  his  steady 
guidance  the  flod^  has  sensibly  increased.  By  his  energetic 
exertions  a  convenient  house  for  the  incumbent  has  been 
erected  contiguous  to  his  new  church,  and  now  there  is  every 
prospect  that  the  Lord  has  opened  the  door  of  frith  to  many, 
and  that  Barnstaple  will  become  a  permanent  and  important 
mission. 

12.  Calverleigh  and  Tiverton,  page  27. 

After  the  defection  of  John  Palmer  Chichester,  Esq.,  as 
mentioned  in  page  19,  the  oldest  chaplaincy  in  Devon,  Arlmg- 
ton,  was  closed  up,  and  the  incumbent,  Bev.  Henry  Innes, 
was  turned  adrift,  to  the  grief  of  Maiy,  the  mother*  of  the 
unfortunate  youth.  This  pious  lady  interested  herself  with 
Joseph  Nagle,t  of  Calverleigh,  Esq.,  to  avail  himself  of  the 
services  of  her  reverend  friend,  who  was  the  spiritual  guide 
of  her  other  son,  Charles  Chichester.  This  young  gentleman 
had  fortunately  married,  on  29th  December,  1791,  Honora 
French,  the  niece  of  Mr.  Nagle,  and  the  arrangement  was 

•  This  lady  was  second  daughter  to  M^r  Donald  Mac  Donald,  of 
Temadristy  co.  Inverness.  She  sorrived  her  husband.  John  Chichesteiv 
Esq.,  thirty-two  years.  Dying  in  Queen-square.  Bath,  5th  December, 
1816,  aged  seventy-seven,  she  was  buried  in  the  chapel  vault  thero^ 
Pierrepoint-streel. 

t  Tnis  venerable  gentleman,  ol  Bally  Gri£Sn,  oo^  Cork,  on  2nd  July, 
1768,  had  purchased  the  manor  of  Calverleigh,  the  reotoiy  of  Bampton, 
4nd  certain  lands  inXempletonyirom  the  trustees  of  Charles  Lord  Viscount 
Fane,  for  10,000  a:uinea8 ;  but  chiefly  resided  at  Bath,  until  he  had  fitted 
np  Calverleigh  tor  his  abode,  about  the  year  1796,  and  shortly  after 
engaged  the  Kev.  Philip  Compton  for  a  chaplain,  who  remained  there 
six  years.  David  Nagle^  Esq.,  brother  of  the  purchaser,  died  here  4ih 
June^  1800,  aged  eighty-one.  Joseph,  as  I  well  remember,  died  at  Cal- 
verleigh Court  29th  January,  1818,  set.  eighty-nine.  By  his  will  the 
property  descended  to  his  nephew-in-law,  Charles  Joseph  Chichester, 
Esq.,  who  survived  until  iTu  January,  1887,  »t.  sixty-seven.  His 
lady  had  preceded  hipi  to  ^  grave  26th  Septeqiber,  1831. 


188  tABLXS  or  SUCCESSION  or   INCUMBENTS. 

conduded  between  the  reverend  gentleman  and  the  family  to 
their  mutual  satisfaction.  At  the  end  of  seven  years  Mr. 
Innes  returned  to  his  native  country,  Scotland,  and  died  at 
Ballogie  in  the  winter  of  1833,  aged  eighty-six. 

3.  VAhbi  Henri  Jacques  Marquant  succeeded  Mr.  Innes 
in  1802,  and  left  in  the  spring  of  1808. 

4.  Monsieur  Renault  came  from  Leighland;  but  died  at 
Calverleigh  14th  November,  1810,  and  was  buried  in  the 
parish  church. 

5.  Paul  Augustin  Fowmier^  of  Vitre,  arrived  at  Calverleigh 
15th  March,  1811;  dying  there  of  apoplexy  18th  January, 
1819,  aged  sixty-seven,  he  was  buried  in  the  churchyard. 

6.  Jean  Marc  Romain  Moutier  (whose  biography  will 
appear  in  Part  II.)  served  this  mission  very  diligently  until 
his  lamented  illness  in  1831.     For  the  present  see  page  27. 

7.  Bamab6  Yraizoz,  of  Navarre,  succeeded  my  pious  friend, 
Mr.  Moutier,  14th  June,  1831 ;  but  left,  from  bad  health,  14th 
October,  1835.  Dying  in  London,  22nd  January,  1836,  set. 
fifty-three,  he  was  buried  on  the  28th  in  Moorfiel^  Chapel. 

8.  James  Joseph  Lyons,  O.8.D.,  came  to  Calverleigh  from 
Usk  28th  November,  1835;  left  for  Lyme  28th  December,  1836. 

9.  Thomas  Costello  arrived  on  Sunday,  29th  January,  1837, 
and  to  the  regret  of  many  quitted  for  Tawstock  22nd  May, 
1840;  he,  however,  in  the  sequel  re-assumed  the  charge  in  the 
Lent  of  184^3,  and  held  it  imtil  his  lamented  death,  21st 
March,  1846.     He  is  buried  at  St.  John^s  Tiverton. 

10.  Rev.  Thomas  Danson  arrived  at  St.  John's,  Tiverton, 
21st  June,  1842;  but  finding  that  Bishop  Baines  had  just 
before  given  up  on  trial  the  premises  to  some  religious  sisters 
of  the  Order  of  Mercy,  he  left  for  Shortwood  on  8th  August 
following. 

1 1 .  Thomas  Erancis  Rooker  reached  St.  John's  12th  August, 
1842 ;  but  to  the  regret  of  his  increasing  fiock  was  summoned 
to  St.  Joseph's,  Bristol,  in  the  beginning  of  Lent,  1843. 

12.  Herbert  Aubrey  Woollett  was  placed  here  3rd  April, 
1846,  and  on  5th  August  following  was  drafted  to  Poole. 

13.  Thomas  Shattock  succeeded  7th  August,  1846;  but 
within  two  months  returned  to  Prior  Park. 

14.  Rev.  William  Sheehy,  an  able  and  active  missionary, 
came  in  October,  1846,  but  left  on  8th  June,  1848. 

15.  Rev.  Henry  Riky  went  there  on  7th  June,  1848,  but 
was  obliged  by  his  rapidly-declining  health  to  resign  all  pas- 
toral duty  on  11th  July  following. 

16.  Rev.  Henry  Keary  succeeded  15th  July,  1848,  but  was 
necessitated  to  leave  before  Christmas,  as  he  could  obtain  no 
part  of  the  Moutier  funds  fix>m  Prior  Park. 


TABLX8  OF  SUCCESSION  OF  INCUMBXNT8.  189 

17.  JRev.  John  Fanning  was  then  sent  by  Bishop  Hendren 
from  his  comfortable  situation  at  Taunton;  but  after  two 
years'  exertion  to  have  justice  done  to  the  incumbent  in  con- 
formity to  the  terms  of  the  foundation^  all  to  no  purpose^ 
be  obtained  permission  to  return  to  Taunton^  in  the  Advent 
of  1850. 

18.  Rev.  John  Ryan  left  Chidiock  at  the  end  of  November^ 
1850^  and  was  stationed  here  for  six  months,  when  he  was 
ordered  to  Falmouth.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
incumbent,  the 

19.  Rev.  Michael  Carroll^  the  seventeenth  that  I  have  seen 
in  this  mission. 

I  am  in  possession  of  the  evidences  that  relate  to  the 
foundation,  and  am  not  surprised  that  a  prelate,  who  knows 
well  all  the  merits  of  the  case,  should  write  to  me  as  follows : 
— "  Hereafter,  good  people  wishing  to  endow  churches,  mis- 
sions, &c.,  will  I^  induced  to  employ  none  but  lay  trustees.'' 

14.  Tor  Abbey.— VsLges  20,  24. 

The  first  priest,  I  believe,  was  a  worthy  secular,  Robert 
Hillj  alias  Timer.  He  was  of  the  ancient  family  of  the  Hills, 
of  Shilston ;  but  of  the  term  of  his  pastoral  office  I  cannot  re- 
cover any  precise  information :  he  was  certainly  living  in  1695. 

The  second,  John  Lewis,  alias  Kemys,  related  to  the  Tynte 
family.  I  have  met  with  him  at  the  abbey  in  1685,  and 
probably  is  the  priest  referred  to  by  the  fanatical  Whittie, 
p.  21.  On  26th  August,  1708,  he  made  his  will,  which  was 
proved  in  the  Bishop's  Court,  Exeter,  on  9th  May,  1709, 
and  was  a  special  benefactor  to  his  successors. 

The  third  that  I  can  leam  (though  some  others  must  have 
intervened — I  think  Mr.  Vincent,  who  went  to  Sparkwell) 
was  John  Beaumont,  of  Stone  Easton,  O.S.F.  I  am  told  that 
he  served  six  years.  He  died  a  Jubilarian  at  St.  Bonaven- 
ture's  convent,  Douay,  1774* 

The  fourth  was  Charles  Needham,  of  Hilston,  co.  Mon- 
mouth. This  gifted  4lh)e  of  Douay  College  and  pohshed 
gentleman  arrived  at  Tor  Abbey  10th  December,  1745,  where 
until  the  autumn  of  1788  he  continued  his  invaluable  services 
to  religion  and  to  the  &mily.  Retiring  from  the  charge  of 
the  flock,  he  took  up  his  quarters  in  the  village  of  Tor 
Mohun  until  22nd  February,  1798,  when  he  left  for  London, 
where  he  died  10th  September,  1802,  at  the  patriarchal  age 
of  eighty-eight. 

5.  John  Halford,  another  talented  and  exemplary  alumnus 
of  Douay  College,  succeeded  the  venerable  Mr.  Needham  at 


190  TABLBs  m  macESBiov  m  ikcumbsnvb. 

Midiaelmaa^  1788,  and  reaided  with  tiie  &mil^  fbr  se<FenMen 
years.  Declining  health  compelled  him  to  resigii  his  charge. 
He  died  at  Henley-oii<>Thames  8th  December,  1806* 

6.  UAbU  ThibauU,  followed  fbr  a  short  time,  when  he 
removed  to  Sidmouth,  where  he  was  universally  esteemed. 
Returning,  at  the  restoration  of  the  Bourbons,  to  Avranches, 
he  there  ended  his  days  14th  July,  1823,  et.  sixty. 

7.  UAbbi  Moriland  succeeded,  but  quitted  late  in  1807 
for  Wappenburg,  oo.  Warwick. 

8.  UAbbi  Michel  supplied,  but  for  a  short  period. 

9«  Mons.  Oabriel  Firan^aiB  Le  Hericf,  a  priest  of  great 
merit,  commenced  his  mission  here  2nd  June,  1808,  and  for 
eight  yean  made  himself  tmiversaUy  beloved.  He  then 
returned  to  iVanoe,  and  died  at  Bayeux  25th  November, 
1844;,  set.  eighty-«ev«i«  I  shall  enlarge  on  this  good  man 
in  the  biographical  part. 

10.  UAbbi  Normand,  bom  1st  January,  1760,  was  a  teticAe- 
irau  here  for  some  time,  then  retreated  to  Spetisbury,  and 
finally  to  Stapehill,  where  he  rested  from  his  labours  14th 
January,  1842. 

11.  jJAbbi  Jean  Cwpi.  For  the  history  of  this  dear  firiend 
see  the  second  part.  After  serving  the  place  efSciently  the 
best  part  of  four  years,  he  left  15th  June,  1820,  to  visit 
France.  On  my  recommendation  he  accepted  the  Poole 
mission  at  Christmas,  1820,  which  he  left  at  Michaelmas, 
1825,  to  return  to  his  native  country.  He  died  at  Bennes 
Slst  December,  1842,  set.  seventy-seven, 

12.  WiUimn  Puraell,  O.8.F.,  reached  Tor  Abbey  in  bad 
health,  23rd  S^tember,  1820.  Dying  on  29th  July  following, 
he  was  buried  in  Tor  Mohun  diurchyard,  set.  fifty-seven. 

18.  John  McEnery,  a  very  able  and  kind-hearted  ecclesi- 
astic, of  whom  I  shall  treat  fully  in  the  second  part.  The 
hope  of  recovering  his  impaired  health  induced  him  to  travri 
mudi  abroad.  Indeed,  we  all  missed  him  much.  He  had 
arrived  here  on  9th  March,  1822,  and  finr  several  years  ren- 
dered important  services  to  religion.  Betuming  to  his  post 
in  1840,  we  hoped  against  hope  that  his  coostitution  would 
have  been  recruited ;  but  no, — on  Thursday  evening,  18th 
February,  he  died  quietly  in  his  chair  at  the  abbey,  aged 
forty-five.  During  his  absence  and  sickness  several  priests 
attended. 

14.  Bef9.  John  mUiams,  from  3rd  April,  1880,  tOl  9& 
July,  1881. 

15.  John  Larkan  supplied  from  19th  July,  1884,  to  the 
April  following,  when  he  was  ordered  to  FoUaAon. 

16.  John  McDownM,  hastily  ordained  at  the  age  of  thirty- 


ZABUU  OP  BUOCXatMm  OV  INCUMBBim.  191 

eiglit,  in  the  adveat  of  1884^  reached  the  abbey  15th  Aprils 
1885 ;  abruptly  quitted  12th  May,  1886  ;  died  at  Trinidad 
in  Febmaiy,  1889. 

17.  Btv. GriffUhB  supplied  for  about  ten  weeks. 

18..Z>'^M^  Sigwole  took  charge  of  the  flock  1st  Sq^tem- 
ber,  1836,  but  shortly  after  Mr.  McEneiy's  return,  embarked 
for  France  15th  April,  1839. 

19.  Charles  Fisher  assisted  my  invalided  firiend  for  several 
months. 

20.  Rev.  Patrick  Woods  arrived  on  18th  July,  1841,  and 
left  it  15th  September  following. 

21.  Thomas  Michael  MacdMnnell  succeeded  Mr.  Woods, 
and  did  good  service  until  Midsummer,  1844,  when  Bishop 
BttggB  called  him  to  Clifton. 

22.  fVilUam  Sheehy  replaced  F.  Maodonell,  but  was 
transferred  to  Tivertcm  in  October,  1846. 

28.  iZev.  Thomas  Danson  made  but  an  appariticm  in  the 
place. 

24.  jRev.  Mawriee  Power  was  transferred  from  Penzance  to 
Torquay  in  October,  1846 ;  and  religion  must  ever  be  indebted 
to  his  successful  zeal  in  undertaking  and  completing  a  churdi, 
amidst  many  difficulties,  to  the  glory  of  Ood  and  the  benefit 
of  many  souls. 


15.  (^i^ftrooitf.— Pages  22,  25. 

I  have  mentioned  before,  that  Thomas,  the  first  Ijord 
Cllffbrd,  had  erected  at  XJgbrooke  a  domestic  chapel  and 
cemetery  in  honour  of  St.  Cyprian,  the  consecration  of  which 
was  performed  on  17th  July,  1671,  by  Dr.  Anthony  Sparrow, 
Lord  Bishop  of  Exeter.  About  a  twelvemonth  later  the 
founder  was  reconciled  to  the  Catholic  Church.  From  the 
following  bill  for  plate  to  be  used  for  this  chapel  it  appears, 
that  he  wished  it  to  be  furnished  most  becomingly.  On 
11th  January,  1673,  Mr.  John  Lindsay  sent  the  articles 
according  to  order,  and  the  bill  was  paid  28th  June  follow* 
hig:— 

2  GiH  Candlesticks,  weight,  258  oz.  5  dwt.,  at  D«.  per  oz.      •  lid  19    fl 
1  Gilt  Chalice,  weight,  41  oz.  15  dwt.  12  gr.,  at  d«.  per  oz.  .    18    6    0 
1  Gilt  Bason,  105  oz.  17  dwt.,  at  8«.  6J.  per  oz.    • 
\  Gilt  Paten,  32oz.  19dwt.  12 gr.,  at  8t.  Ctf.  per  oz. 
1  Gilt  Flagon,  64  oz.  19  dwt  at  Ss.  6d.  per  oz.     . 


The  Engraving  of  Gilt  Plate 
For  Cases  of  the  said  Gilt  Plate 


44  19  0 

Id  16  3 

27  12  0 

14  0 

8    0  0 


£227    7    4 


192  TABLES  OF  gUCCESSION  OF  INCVHBENTg. 

Perhaps  be  never  saw  it  unpacked.  Towards  the  end  of 
August^  1673^  he  left  London  :  he  must  have  suffered 
much  on  the  journey  from  his  disorder  the  stone.  He 
begins  his  will  on  the  7th  October,  professing  that  he  was 
''  weak  in  body ;"  and  had  ceased  to  live  ten  days  later. 

Chaplains  and  Incumbents. 

1 .  Thomas  Bisdan  alias  Blewett,  S>.  J.  The  first  time  I  meet 
with  him  in  these  parts  is  in  the  year  1701,  and  again  in  1710. 
He  occurs  in  the  will  of  Dame  Gratiana  Carew,  relict  of  Sir 
Henry  Carew,  Baronet,  made  24th  May,  1728-9,  and  proved 
8rd  December,  1730,  thus : — 

"  I  give  unto  Mr.  Thomas  Risdon,  of  Ugbroke,  the  charge 
and  care  of  all  such  things  as  shall  be  in  the  upper  closet  of 
Bickleigh,  if  he  be  living  at  the  time  of  my  decease,  other- 
ways  to  such  parsone  who  shall  have  the  care  of  my  soul  at 
the  time  of  my  departure  hence,  to  fitt  itt  for  its  eternal 
abode.''  Lady  Ann  Clifford  {olim  Preston)  in  her  will,  dated 
Ugbrooke,  13th  September,  1733,  bequeaths  ''  to  Mr.  Bisdon, 
who  lives  with  me,  twenty  pounds.''  Her  ladyship  died 
5th  July  following.  Soon  after  the  reverend  gentleman 
retired  to  Watten,  where  he  died  12th  February,  1744,  at, 
eighty-two. 

2.  Dominic  Derbyshire,  0,S.D,,  succeeded  in  February, 
1735.  He  was  called  away  twelve  years  later  to  fill  the 
office  of  sixteenth  prior  of  Bomhem;  but  as  soon  as  the 
triennial  term  of  government  expired,  he  returned  to  Ugbrooke, 
where  he  ended  his  days,  as  I  found  written  in  the  Prayer- 
book  of  one  who  knew  him,  on  Friday,  7th  January,  1757, 
and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  behind  the  chapel.  The 
Bomhem  Bolls  testify  that,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was 
sixty-eight  years  of  age,  professed  forty-six,  and  priest  forty- 
four.  But  I  never  could  learn  who  was  his  substitute  during 
his  absence  at  Bornhem  Convent  of  the  Holy  Cross. 

3.  James  Price,  O.S.B,,  who  had  been  superior  of  St. 
Edmund's  at  Paris,  reached  Ugbrooke  about  Michaelmas, 
1757,  in  a  confirmed  dropsy,  and  died  three  months'  later. 
His  remains  lie  in  the  chancel  of  Chudleigh  Church,  where 
he  was  buried,  according  to  the  parish  register,  4th  January, 
1758. 

4.  Frost,  James,  O.S.F.  (in  religion,  Peter).    This  amiable 

Eriest  resided  at  Ugbrooke  from  1758  until  June  1766,  when 
e  was  ordered  by  his  superiors  to  take  charge  of  their  school 
at  Edgbaston,  near  Birmingham.  In  July,  1770,  he  was 
elected  guardian  of  St.  Bonaventure's  Convent  at  Douay, 


TABLES   OF   SUCCESSION    OF   INCUMBENTS*  193 

and  proyineial  of  his  brethren,  30th  August,  1782.  He  had 
hardly  completed  his  triennial  period  of  government,  when 
he  died  at  Wootton,  3rd  October,  1 786,  aet.  fifty-four. 

5.  JVilliam  Strickland,  S.J.,  after  some  time  was  appointed 
to  supply  at  Ugbrooke  until  the  Rev.  Joseph  Beeve  could 
arrive  from  the  Continent.     See  the  second  part. 

6.  Joseph  Reeve,  S.J.,  a  man  of  extraordinary  merit,  who 
arrived  at  Ugbrooke  on  5th  August,  1767,  and  there  ended 
his  days  2nd  May,  1820,  aged  eighty-seven.  I  shall  dwell 
on  his  merits  at  length  in  the  second  part. 

7.  Felix  Vauguelin.  This  learned  friend,  who  had,  from 
the  first  French  Revolution,  enjoyed  an  asylum  at  Ugbrooke, 
undertook  the  charge  of  the  congregation  when  Mr.  Reeve's 
sight  began  to  fail  him,  and  returned  to  his  native  city, 
Rouen,  in  September,  1816.  Its  archbishop,  acquainted 
with  his  distinguished  merits,  soon  appointed  him  a  grand 
vicaire.  There  he  died,  universally  respected  and  esteemed, 
7th  February,  1840,  aet.  eighty- three. 

8.  James  Laurenson,  S.J.,  succeeded  27th  September,  1816, 
and  continued  his  zealous  services  until  10th  January,  1831, 
when  he  was  transferred  to  Lincoln. 

9.  James  Broumbill,  SJ. — This  worthy  succcessor  to  P, 
Laurenson  had  arrived  on  Saturday,  27th  November,  1830. 
To  his  great  comfort  and  joy,  he  removed  from  Ugbrooke 
House  to  Ashwell  within  the  Park,  on  Wednesday,  26th 
June,  1832 ;  but  to  the  deep  regret  of  his  congregation  and 
numerous  friends  of  all  denominations  of  religion,  he  was 
forced  to  retire  on  27th  September,  1835.  See  the  Appendix, 
No.  VIII. ;  and  also  Part  II. 

10.  William  Cotham,  SJ. — He  had  been  ordained  priest 
at  Stonyhurst  in  the  Ember  week  of  Advent,  1834,  and 
reached  Ugbrooke  24th  September  following,  to  succeed  F. 
Brownbill.  After  ten  years  of  indefatigable  labour,  obedience 
calling  him  away  to  the  arduous  mission  of  Wigan,  he  bade 
adieu  to  Ugbrooke  on  4th  November,  1845. 

11.  Charles  Lomax,  SJ.,  arrived  at  Ugbrooke  on  16th 
October,  1845,  where,  I  trust,  he  has  found  a  resting-place. 
In  page  29  I  have  briefly  alluded  to  his  zeal  for  souls. 

12.  Henry  Brigham,  SJ.,  succeeded  28th  February,  1856. 

15.  Wardour  Mission. 

1.  William  Smith,  S^./.— Obiit  13th  September,  1658,  aet. 
sixty-four. 

2.  Ric/iard  Mason,  O.S.F. — See  second  part. 

3.  John  Weldon,  S.J, — See  second  part. 

o 


194  TABLES   OF   SUCCESSION   OP    INCUMBENTS. 

4.  TThomas  FairfaXy  alias  Beckett,  S.J. — Ob.  2nd  March, 
1716,  «t.  sixty. 

6.  Richard  Holland,  SJ.—Ke  left  in  July,  1734. 

6.  Hubert  Hacon,  S.  J.,  succeeded ;  but  must  have  resigned 
the  charge  of  the  congregation  some  time  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Wardour  9th  May,  1751,  set.  seventy- 
three. 

*7.  Michael  Poole,  8.J.,  was  pastor  for  some  years.  Obiit 
in  Angli&  23rd  April,  1748,  set.  sixty-one,  soc.  forty-one. 

8.  Robert  Constable,  S,J.,  served  the  family  and  mission 
from  1746  to  1759. 

9.  John  Jenison,  8J.,  from  1759  to  1774. 

10.  Augustine  Jenison,  8  J,,  who  after  three  years  and  a  few 
months,  in  October,  1774,  abandoned  all ! 

11.  Charles  Forrester,  vere  Fleuri,  arrived  at  Wardour  10th 
February,  1775.  This  reverend  gentleman,  accompanying 
the  eighth  Lord  Arundell  and  family  during  a  residence  of 
two  years  on  the  Continent, — 

12.  Joseph  Clossette,  8.J,,  was  sent  at  Michaelmas,  1781, 
to  supply ;  but  melancholy  to  relate,  on  23rd  October  of  that 
year  he  was  thrown  from  his  horse  at  Ludwell,  near  Wardour, 
and  killed  on  the  spot,  in  his  thirtieth  year. 

13.  Edward  Wheble,  who  had  lived  as  private  chaplain  in 
the  family,  now  undertook  the  charge  of  the  congregation 
until  F.  Forrester  could  resume  his  post.  This  eloquent  man, 
dying  at  Wardour  29th  January,  1788,  at.  sixty-three,  was 
buri^  at  the  entrance  of  the  chapel. 

14.  Edward  Nichell,  8.J.,  on  F.  Forrester's  resigning  the 
incumbency  for  the  post  of  domestic  chaplain.  After  dis- 
charging his  pastoral  office,  with  an  affectionate  zeal  that 
must  ever  endear  his  memory  to  the  Wardour  congregation, 
during  fourteen  years,  he  left  for  Trinidad,  where,  on  4th 
November,  1806,  he  fell  a  victim  of  charity  in  attending  the 
poor  negroes,  aet.  fifty-four. 

15.  Jean  Baptiste  Martst  succeeded  F.  Nichell,  and  for 
sixteen  years  discharged  the  duties  of  a  good  shepherd.  On 
his  retirement  to  Canford,  1817, — 

16.  F.  Joseph  Postlewhite  served  Wardour  from  March, 
1817,  until  October,  1820. 

17.  F.  Richard  Parker,  8J.,  from  6th  October,  1820,  until 
March,  1832. 

*  I  am  at  fault  where  to  place  F.  Edward  Withie,  S.J. ;  but  after 
serving  at  Wardour  he  died  at  Liege  22nd  November,  1769,  eet.  eighty. 
According  to  the  Provinciars  book,  he  was  succeeded  at  Wardour  by 
F.Joseph  Wright,  who  died  in  England  14th  March,  1700,  tet.  sixty- 
one. 


TABLES   OF   SUCCESSION   OF   INCUMBENTS.  195 

18.  F,  James  Carr,  SJ.,  supplied  firom  Marcli  until  20th 
June,  1832.  He  was  born  at  Preston  4th  June,  1795 ;  was 
educated  at  Stonyhurst ;  succeeded  P.  Brice  Bridge  at  Nor- 
wich, in  August,  1822;  transferred  to  Worcester,  vice  P. 
Richard  Norris,  in  1826 ;  quitted  the  Society  in  the  summer 
of  1827 ;  re-admitted  in  December,  1829 ;  but  withdrew 
again  after  his  departure  from  Wardour  at  the  end  of  three 
months.     He  is  still  living. 

19.  F.  Jamea  Laurenson,  S.J. — Of  this  very  old  and  dear 
friend,  I  shall  have  to  treat  at  large  in  the  second  part. 
The  late  Everard  Lord  Arundell  had  witnessed  at  Ugbrooke, 
during  his  long  ministry,  his  undeviating  example  of  pro- 
priety and  enlightened  zeal,  and  earnestly  petitioned  his 
superiors  that  Wardour  might  be  privileged  with  obtaining 
such  a  pastor.  His  request  was  granted,  and  P.  Laurenson 
arrived  at  Wardour  on  the  23rd  June,  1832,  in  the  place  of 
P.  Carr.  I  can  hardly  trust  myself  to  speak  of  his  merito- 
rious services  to  the  family,  and  to  the  increasing  congrega- 
tion. By  his  active  industry,  he  succeeded  in  creating  the 
spacious  and  most  convenient  Catholic  cemetery,  which  was 
first  opened  with  imposing  solemnity  on  the  occasion  of  the 
first  interment  of  an  infant  (Elias  Peter  Burton)  on  1st  January, 
1836.  Owing  to  the  rapid  progress  of  the  cause  of  religion 
in  this  extensive  mission,  he  was  at  length  allowed  an  assist- 
ant, first,  in  P.  Henry  Mahon ;  second,  P.  Walter  Clifibrd ; 
third,  P.  WiUiam  Lomax,  who  arrived  14th  October,  1843; 
fourth,  P.  William  Waterton  (of  all  whom  I  shall  report 
in  the  biographical  part) ;  and  fifth,  of  P.  James  Clough, 
who  arrived  in  July,  1848,  and  died  3rd  November  fol- 
lowing, set.  forty-five.  But  from  Ist  November,  1848,  until 
2nd  September,  1853,  he  was  left  to  perform  double  duty ; 
and  then  abruptly  transferred  to  Worcester,  where  he  is 
now  pursuing  his  apostolic  labours,  aet.  seventy-four. 

20.  F.  John  Grimstone,  SJ.,  arrived  30th  June,  1858. 
He  was  allowed  an  assistant,  first,  in  P.  Edward  Hood,  for 
about  a  year  and  a  half;  second,  in  P.  Gteorge  Lambert ; 
and  since  20th  October,  1855,  in  P.  Henry  Walmesley,  of 
whom  more  in  Part  II. 

21.  F.  Ralph  Cooper,  S.J.,  formerly  at  Worcester,  is  the 
present  incumbent  at  Wardour,  in  consequence  of  P.  Grim- 
stone  being  obliged  to  retire  by  reason  of  bad  health. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  observe,  that  a  small  community 
of  Carthusians  from  Gallion,  near  Bouen,  emigrated  into 
this  country  at  the  Prench  Revolution,  and  that  through  the 
generosity  of  the  Arundell  family,  they  found  an  asylum  at 
Coomb,   near  Shaftesbury.    They  were  eight  in  number; 

o  2 


196  TABLES   OP   SUCCESSION   OP    INCUMBENTS. 

their  prior  died  there,  and  was  buried  at  Donhcad,  St.  Maiy, 
with  the  following  inscription  : — 

D.    O.    M. 

Dom.  Anthehn.  GuUlemet, 

A  Carthusian  Monk, 

Of  the  Convent  of  Bourhon,  in  Normandy. 

Banished  from  his  native  country  for  his  religion. 

Died  at  Coomb  April  21  st,  1798, 

In  Uie  84th  of  his  age,  ana  55th  of  his  profession. 

May  he  rest  in  peace. 

Amen. 

"  He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  full  of  days." 

Gen.  XXV.  8. 

In  the  ''Catholic  Magazine'*  of  January,  1835,  is  an 
interesting  report  of  a  visit  to  the  Grande  Chartreuse,  made 
in  October,  1833.  Pfere  Antoine  Latarre,  set.  eighty-four,  who 
had  been  afforded  shelter  and  protection  at  Coomb,  was  then 
living,  and  retained  the  warmest  sense  of  gratitude  towards 
the  Arundell  family.  He  made  numberless  inquiries  con- 
cerning its  surviving  members,  and  declared  that  he  never 
passed  a  day  without  earnestly  recommending  these  his 
ancient  benefactors  to  Almighty  God. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  L 
MefercMe  to  page  8. 

Ik  page  8 1  have  stated  that  the  Petre  family  had  derived  their 
origin,  and  had  acquired  considerable  property,  in  the  diocese  of 
Exeter.  Though  they  ceased,  for  the  most  part,  to  reside  on  it, 
it  may  be  desirable  to  give  a  brief  synopsis  ol  the  family. 

The  founder  of  this  family  was  William,  son  of  John  Fetre, 
by  his  wife  Alice  Colin.  At  Tor  Newton,  a  very  small  estate  in 
Tor  Brian  parish,  Devon,  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  In 
process  of  time,  he  ^ot  admission  into  Exeter  College,  Oxford, 
and  was  early  introduced  at  court,  where  we  meet  him  as  a 
protegS  of  that  unprincij)led  minister  Thomas  Cromwell,  on  24th 
November,  1535.  By  his  obsequious  acquiescence  to  four  suc- 
cessive sovereigns, — viz.  Henrv  VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  Mary,  and 
Queen  Elizabeth, — he  succeeded  in  retaining  their  confidence, 
and  largely  sharing  in  their  bounty.  The  estate  that  he  acquired 
by  crown  grants  was  truly  immense;  in  Devonshire  alone  the 
property  amounted  to  86,000  acres,  and,  which  is  singular,  he 
obtained  of  Pope  Paul  IV.  a  confirmation  of  this  strangely- 
acquired  property.  The  Bull,  dated  28th  November,  1556,  may 
be  seen  in  vol.  vi.  of  the  Monasticon  Anglicanum,  p.  1645.  It 
must,  however,  be  said  in  his  commendation,  that  he  was  a 
generous  benefactor  to  Exeter  CoUege,  Oxford,  and  that  he 
handsomely  endowed  an  almshouse  for  twenty  poor  persons  at 
Ingatestone,  Essex.  He  died  on  13th  January,  1572,  and  was 
buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Ingatestone. 

A  younger  brother  of  his,  Bichard,  was  installed  precentor  of 
Exeter  Cathedral,  28th  December,  1557,  and  was  certainly 
averse  to  Queen  Elizabeth^s  change  of  the  national  religion 
(see  Alley's  Eegister,  p.  62)  ;  but  still  retained  his  office  until 
December,  1571  (see  Bradbridge's  Eegister,  fol.  67),  when  Ye 
resigned  it  during  his  knightly  brother's  last  illness.  I  can 
discover  nothing  in  the  Acts  of  our  bishops  of  Exeter  to  warrant 
Dodd's  assertion  (Church  History,  vol.  li.  p.  127),  that  he  was 
deprived  for  opposing  the  Beformation  in  the  beginning  of  Queen 
Elizabeth's  reign. 

Sir  "William  Petre  left  an  only  son,  John,  whom  King  James  I., 
on  21st  July,  1603,  created  Lord  Petre,  baron  of  Writtle,  in 


198  APPENDIX. 

CO.  Essex.  He  married  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Sir  Edward 
Waldegrave,  who  had  died  a  confessor  of  the  Catholic  faith  in  the 
Tower  of  London,  Ist  September,  1561.  There  is  cause  for 
believing  that  he  made  conscience  too  subservient  to  his  political 
interests.  Dying,  11th  October,  1613,  he  was  buried  near  his 
father.  Exeter  College  honoured  his  memory  by  a  thin  4to. 
of  Epicedia,  entitled,  "Threni  Exoniensium  in  obitum  illus- 
trissimi  Viri  D.  Johannis  Petrei,  Baronis  de  Writtle,  Filii 
D.  Gul.  Petrei."  Oxon,  1613,  pp.  48.  These  poems  are  in 
Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  and  other  languages.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  Dorothy,  his  lordship's  sister,  and  wife  of 
Sir  Nicholas  Wadham,  so  heartily  concurred  with  her  husband, 
whom  she  long  suryived,  in  the  foundation  of  Wadham  College, 
Oxford,  as  to  be  called  '<  foundresse,"  in  her  monument  at 
Ilminster.     Ob.  16th  May,  1618,  set.  eighty-four. 

2.  William,  the  eldest  son  of  the  first  Lord  Petre,  succeeded  to 
the  title  and  estates.  He  married  Catherine,  second  daughter 
of  Edward  Somerset,  earl  of  Worcester.  Her  ladyship  died  on 
81st  October,  1625.  Her  noble  Lord  had  much  annoyance  and 
persecution  to  endure  for  his  attachment  to  the  old  religion. 
Dr.  George  Abbot,  the  puritanical  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
summoned  him  before  the  Ecclesiastical  Court  in  consequence. 
His  name  was  struck  out  from  the  list  of  ma^trates.  He  seema 
to  have  taken  a  delight  in  forming  a  collection  of  armoury ;  but 
it  was  seized  by  the  Government,  which  still  was  mean  enough  to 
saddle  him  with  the  cost  of  keeping  it  in  proper  order.  At 
Thomdon  he  died  piously  on  5th  May,  1627 ;  and  his  last  words, 
says  E.  Henry  More  (Hist.  Prov,  Angl.  S.J.,  p.  467),  were, 
"  I  am  now  gomg  where  I  shall  never  offend  Q^od  any  more." 

3.  JRobert  Lord  FetrSy  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  last-mentioned 
peer.  Seven  years  before  his  accession  to  the  title,  he  had  con- 
tracted marriage  with  Mary,  daughter  of  Anthony,  Lord  Viscount 
Montague;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  their  three  sons, 
William,  John,  and  Thomas,  were  successively  Barons  Petre. 

In  the  Diary  of  Walter  Yonge,  Esq.,  from  1604  to  1628, 
printed  for  the  Camden  Society  in  1848,  I  read,  in  page  108 : 
"  July  2l8t,  1627, — About  two  months  since,  the  Lord  Petre's 
two  sons  were  taken,  going  to  the  University  in  Spain;  and 
were  this  week,  together  with  the  Lord  Harbert*s  son,  committed 
to  the  custody  of  the  bishop  of  London"  (George  Montague). 
According  to  one  account,  the  noble  lord  died  23rd  October, 
1637 ;  but  probably  on  23rd  October,  1638.  That  he  proved  a 
distinguished  benefactor  to  the  English  Jesuits,  is  evident  from 
the  following  letter  of  the  provincial,  E.  Eichard  Blount,  dated 
London,  27th  August,  1682,  to  the  sixth  general  of  their  Society, 
Mutius  Vitelleschi : — 

"  Admodum  Eevde.  in  Christo  Pater  Noster — ^Pax  Christi. 

"  lllustrissimus  Dominus  Baro  Ccphalini  (sic  enim  vocari  cupit 
Hospes   Henrici    More),    Baro    Petri,  zelo  fidei  ac    religiouis 


APPENDIX.  199 

Catholicffi  propagaudffi  accensus,  cum  liberia  suts  omnibus  jam 
provident,  excepto  natu  maxim o,  pietatis  in  patriam  suam  monu- 
mentum  quoque  aliquod  relinquere  post  se  optat.  Collegium 
itaque  Societatis  nostrss  fundare  in  animo  habet,  cui  dotando 
prster  redditum  annuum  perpetuum  quasi  mille  scutorum, 
summam  capitalem  sexdecim  millium  scutorum  in  parat&  pecuni4 
seposuit,  quffi  si  ad  nummum  duntaxat  decimum  quintum  expo- 
natur,  ad  alendos  viginti  quinque  personas  omnino  sufficiet. 
Quod  si  DivinsB  Bonitati  yitam  ipsi  ad  aliquot  annos  proro^are 
visum  fuerit,  paratis  qusB  filio  natu  minimo  sufficiant,  dotem  etiam 
collegii  aucturum  se  sperat.  Dignabitur  Fatemitas  Yestra  banc 
optimi  sane  viri,  et  Societatis  nostrs  studiosissimi,  piam  volun- 
tatem  p;ratam  habere,  et  collegium  sic  dotandum  aa  majus  Dei 
obsequium  et  animarum  auxilium  admittere,  quod  ipse  Chelma- 
fordii  (hoc  priecipuum  illius  comitatus  est  oppidum  et  nostris 
ministeriis  percommodum)  sub  nuncupatione  Sanctorum  Aposto- 
lorum  collocandum  censet.  Quod  eo  etiam  nomine  Hbentiua 
concessura  l^pero  Patemitatem  Yestram,  quia  idem  illustrissimus 
Dominus  ab  obitu  parentis  per  complures  jam  annos  insignia 
benefactor  extitit,  donatis  Societati  in  singulos  annos  mDle  scutis, 
quam  eleemosynam  bodieque  dat,  et  ad  obitum  usque  daturus  est. 

"Et  quidem  est  Oxonii  Collegium  quod  ab  ejus  majoribus 
fundatum,  ob  conditiones  in  ejus  traditione  pactas,  sed  jam  mani- 
feate  ruptas,  secundum  jura  ad  ipsum  devolutum  censetur ;  cujus 
possessionem  baud  dubio  jam  adiisset,  si  per  temporum  iniqui* 
tatem  jus  suum  prosequi  licuisset.  Itaque,  lite  pendente,  sed 
non  adjudicate.  Collegium  illud  (Exoniense)  si  quando  a  posteris 
recuperabitur,  Societati  nostrte  per  codicillum  donandum  ordi- 
nabit;  qu»  sane  res  eximiam  ejus  in  nos  benoTolentiam  satis 
ostendit.  Ceterum  ubi  perlatum  fuerit  responsum  Fatemitatis 
Yestne,  si  collegium  admittendum  videbitur,  pecunia  supradicta 
cum  redditu  annuo  mibi  statim  legitime  consignabitur.  Simul 
vero,  si  placet  F.Y.,  mittatur  diploma,  quo  hujusmodi  collegium 
a  se  rite  admissum  testetur;  cujusmodi  diploma  missurum  etiam 
se  proraisit  D.  Carolo  Shirebundo,  quod  tamen  bactenus  non 
suscepi.  Quod  reliquum  est,  Sanctis  me  F.Y.  sacrificiis  et 
orationibus  humillime  commendo.   Londini,  27  Augusti,  1632. 

"  Adm.  E.F.Y.  indignus  in  Cbristo  filius  et  servus, 

"BlOABDUS  BlONDUS." 

The  regular  diploma  duly  reached  his  lordship,  which  he 
acknowledged  to  tne  said  General  Yitelleschi  by  letter,  dated 
London,  3rd  April,  1635. 

4.  WiUiam,  the  eldest  son  of  Lord  Bobert,  succeeded  to  the 
peerage,  and  had  to  encounter  most  difficult  times  in  consequence 
of  his  loyal  and  religious  principles.  When  a  regiment  refused  to 
march  until  it  received  its  arrears  of  pay,  amounting  to  £3,000, 
the  Puritanical  Farliament  (Journals,  vi.  519)  ordered  the  sum  to 
be  raised  by  the  sale  of  his  lordship's  woods  in  Essex.  In  the 
State-Paper  Office  is  a  "  certificate,  according  to  order,  of  9th 


200  APPENDIX. 

May,  1650,  upon  petition  of  Edward  Beaton  and  Edward  White, 
gentlemen,  trustees  for  the  younger  children  of  the  late  Bobert 
Lord  Petre,  desirins  allowance  of  a  deed  for  raising  portions,  &c." 

"  That  the  said  Bobert  Lord  Petre  had  been  seized  of  the 
manor  of  S.  Brent,  Devon,  of  the  value  of  ^411.  15^.  Id.,  and  of 
about  £300  old  rents. 

"  Of  the  manor  of  Patworth,  co.  Somerset,  £14. 18«.  9d. 

"  Of  the  manor  of  Writtle,  in  Essex,  and  other  lands  in  the 
same  county,  £1,034.  11«.  4J.  value,  did  by  deed,  dated  11th 
October,  1688,  bargain  and  sell  to  petitioners  for  a  term  of  thirty 
years  the  abovesaid  manors  and  lands  under  the  yearly  rent  of 
£100  per  annum,  to  the  heirs  of  the  same  Lord  Petre,  upon  trust 
to  raise  £35,000  for  the  advancement  of  Mary,  John,  Francis, 
Thomas,  Dorothy,  and  Anthony,  his  children,  in  shares  following : 
to  Mary  six,  John  ten,  Francis  five,  Thomas  five,  Dorothy  four, 
and  Anthony  five,  to  be  paid  at  their  attaining  the  a^  of  twenty- 
one.  Proviso  for  avoiding  payment  of  the  portions  of  such 
as  should  prove  dissolute  and  ungovemed  either  in  course  of  life, 
or  in  marriage  without  the  consent  of  parents.  That  the  portion 
of  Mary  had  been  paid  on  her  marriage  with  Edward  Stourton, 
Esq.;  that  Francis  and  Anthony  had  died  before  the  age  of 
twenty-one ;  that  trustees  had  received  further  in  this  charge  of 
their  trust  £5,930.  10s, ;  and  petitioners  were  in  possession,  by 
virtue  of  the  order  of  commissioners  for  sequestration,  dated 
7th  April,  1647,  until  hindered  by  the  new  commissioners  in  the 
several  counties." 

Particulars  of  the  estates  in  Devon. 

The  manor  of  South  Brent £142    0  0 

—  Churchstowe 64  11  11 

—  Kingsbridge 18  12  7 

—  Shute     65     2  4 

—  Southleigh    16    6  8 

—  Northleigh    11  15  7 

—  Werrington 5  16  0 

—  Hitway 2  14  2 

—  Uphay  9    8  4 

—  Ilumfraville 10    9  0 

—  Axminster 61     6  8 

—  Dowleshays  8     6  4 

—  HaccombeFee 4  18  2 

—  Challenger    5  17  0 

—  Combpyne    17    6  6 

—  Dounehumfraville    16  12  6 

—  Lands  called  Sparkhays  2  13  4 

—  Littlecombe 4  10  6 

—  Laggesmore,  alias  Buxmore    2     6  3 

—  Dcane  and  Brannomb 2    0  4 

Carried  forward 461  11     1 


APPENDIX.  201 

Brouffht  forward  £461  11    1 

The  Manor  of  Borcomoe 4  13    4 

—  Hunthajes   2    11 

—  EastMembury 2  10    0 

—  Kellene     1  13  10 

—  Sidford,  Sidburj,  and  Hartcombe .       2  10    4 

Total  of  rents £474  19    8 

Though  King  Charles  II.  did  not  possess  a  more  loyal  subject, 
yet  during  the  national  delirium  excited  by  Oates's  plot, — ".which 
plot  his  Majesty  was  satisfied  was  all  a  fiction,  never  believing 
one  tittle  of  it'*  (Life  of  James  II.  vol.  i.), — this  illustrious 
peer,  on  29th  November,  1678,  was  consigned  to  the  Tower,  and 
was  sufiered  to  remain  there  and  die  a  prisoner  without  trial  on 
3rd  January,  1683.  Just  before  his  death  he  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  his  ungrateful  sovereign.  I  may  pre- 
mise, however,  that  this  excellent  nobleman  had  been  committed 
to  jail  by  the  usurper  Cromwell  (for  his  loyalty  had  made  him 
suspected)  on  30th  June,  1655.  On  8th  August  he  solicited 
Secretary  Thurloe's  interest  with  the  Protector,  "  that  in  regard 
of  certam  great  business,  which  lies  gasping  by  reason  of  my 
restraint,  he  would  be  pleased  either  to  grant  me  a  full  liberty, 
or  fredom  upon  my  own  engagement,  to  follow  my  said  occa- 
sions." The  usurper,  I  believe,  was  more  lenient  than  his 
legitimate  sovereign : — 

"  May  it  please  TotrB  Majesty, — I  give  myself  the  hopes 
that  your  Majesty  will  pardon  this  presumption  of  a  dying  but 
dutiful  subject,  in  giving  vou  the  trouble  of  this  short  account 
and  declaration  of  myself,  by  which,  in  the  first  place,  I  oflTer  to 
God  my  hearty  prayers  for  your  Maiesty's  long  life  and  happy 
reign,  with  all  the  blessings  of  this  life,  and  eternal  happiness  in 
the  next. 

"  I  having  been  now  above  five  years  in  prison,  and  what  is 
more  grievous  to  me,  lain  so  long  under  a  false  and  injurious 
caliminy  of  a  horrid  plot  and  design  against  your  Majesty's 
person  and  Government,  and  am  now,  by  the  disposition  of  God's 
providence,  called  into  another  world  before  I  could,  by  a  public 
trial  make  my  innocence  appear,  I  conceived  it  necessary  for  me, 
as  an  incumbent  duty  I  owe  to  truth  and  my  own  innocence,  to 
make  this  ensuing  protestation  to  your  Majesty  and  the  whole 
world. 

"That  whereas  one  Titus  Gates  hath  maliciously  and  falsely 
sworn,  that  he  saw  me  receive  a  commission  directed  to  me  from 
Joannes  Faulus  de  Gliva  constituting  me  lieutenant-general  of 
an  army  which  he  pretended  was  to  come  to  England,  I  declare 
in  the  presence  of  the  all-seeing  God,  before  whose  just  tribunal 
I  am  shortly  to  appear,  that  I  never  saw  any  such  commission 
directed  to  me,  or  any  other  person  whatsoever,  and  do  firmly 
believe  there  never  was  any  such.     But  of  the  folly  as  well  as  the 


202  APPENDIX. 

falsehood  of  the  mformation,  the  sober  part  of  mankind,  aa  I 
conceive,  sufficiently  ere  this  are  convincea. 

**  And  as  for  those  aspersions  which  the  ignorant  and  malicious 
have  thrown  upon  the  Koman  Catholic  Church  (of  which  I  am, 
and  bj  the  grace  of  God  do  die  a  member),  as  if  murdering  of 
kings  and  taking  up  arms  against  our  sovereigns  was  an  authorized 
principle  of  that  religion,  I  do  knowiuelj  affirm,  there  is  nothing 
with  more  horror  detested  by  the  Catholic  Church,  as  being  ex- 
pressly contrary  to  the  command  of  our  Saviour  and  to  Christian 
doctrine ;  and,  as  such,  I  renounce  and  detest  it,  aa  I  do  all  plots 
and  coDspiracies  aeainst  your  sacred  person. 

**  Having  thus  briefly,  and  with  all  sinceriir  of  a  dying  man, 
discharged  my  conscience,  I  shall  end  where  1  began,  and  with 
my  last  breath  bejg  of  Qod  to  defend  your  Majest]^  from  all  your 
enemies,  and  to  forgive  those  who  by  their  perjuries  have  endea- 
voured to  make  me  appear  to  be  one,  who,  living  and  dying,  am 
as  in  duty  bound,  &c. 

^*  Your  most  obedient  and  loyal  subject, 

"  W.  Petbe." 

Thus  died  this  much-injured  nobleman,  leaving  a  bright  example 
of  innocence  and  charity,  as  well  as  of  inviolable  loyalty.  His 
brother  «/bAn,  jfifth  Lord  Fetre,  succeeded,  but  survived  his  la- 
mented predecessor  but  one  twelvemonth. 

6.  Thomas,  the  third  brother,  was  the  next  peer.  King 
James  II.  highly  esteemed  and  favoured  him,  as  well  on  account 
of  his  own  ments,  as  for  the  distinguished  virtues  of  his  perse- 
cuted brother,  the  Lord  William.  At  the  Bevolution  he  was 
consequently  subjected  to  much  vexation ;  but  he  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  dying  4th  June,  1707.  By  his  lady,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  Clifton,  Bart.,  he  left  an  only  son  to  inherit  his 
honours,  viz., 

7.  Robert. — This  is  the  "adventurous  baron  "  in  Pope's  "Bape 
of  the  Lock."  The  young  nobleman,  shortly  after  marrying  that 
great  heiress  Miss  Catherine  Walmesley,*  of  DunKenhalgh, 
Lancashire,  was  rapidly  carried  off  by  small-pox.  His  will  was 
timely  made  on  21st  March,  1713.     His  posthumous  son, 

8.  Robert  James,  now  became  the  eighth  Lord  Petre.  The 
family  chaplain,  the  Eev.  Bobert  Manning,  a  consummate  theo- 
logian, paid  extraordinary  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  his  mind 
and  unaerstanding.  Prom  Nichol's  Illustrations,  vol.  i.  p.  327,  it 
appears  that  his  lordship  was  an  eminent  florist,  and  fellow  of  the 
Boyal  and  Antiquarian  Societies.  On  25th  April,  1732,  he  married 
at  St.  Paul's,  London,  the  Lady  Mary,  daughter  of  James  Earl  of 
Derwentwater.  He  died  2nd  July,  1742,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  only  son, 

9.  Robert  Edward, — His  family  must  be  ever  indebted  to  him 
for  building  his  princely  mansion  of  Thomdon.    That  he  possessed 

*  She  afterwards  married  Charles,  14th  Lord  Stourton,  and  surviving  him 
fifty -two  years,  died  31  January,  1785»  let.  eighty -eight. 


APPENDIX.  203 

many  estimable  qualitieB,  was  a  munificent  encouniger  of  men  of 
letters,  and  very  charitable,  is  undeniable ;  but  unfortunately  he 
became  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  some  designing  members  of  the 
Cisalpine  Committee,  and  was  betrayed  in  consequence  into  in- 
discretions. His  letter  to  Dr.  Horsley,  Bishop  of  St.  David's, 
dated  17th  February,  1789,  would  better  have  remained  unpub« 
lished.  But  before  his  death,  the  noble  lord  expressed  his  deep 
sorrow  for  every  act  and  writing  inconsistent  with  his  faith  and 
religious  dut^  mto  which  he  had  fallen  in  the  management  of 
Catholic  affiurs ;  and  he  caused  all  the  papers  of  that  nature  in 
his  possession  to  be  burnt  in  his  presence.  See  Dr.  Milner's 
Supplementary  Memoirs,  p.  833.  Ob.  2nd  July,  1801,  let.  sixty. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son, 

10.  Boheri  Sdtoard,  who  enjoyed  his  honours  but  a  short  time, 
dying  29th  March,  1809,  aet.  forty-six. 

11.  William  Francis  Hen/ry, — This  nobleman  parted  with  the 
remainder  of  the  family  property  in  Devon.  Ob.  Srd  July,  1850, 
aged  fifty-seven. 

12.  William  Henry  Francis,  his  eldest  son,  and  now  twelfth 
Lord  Petre,  married  on  26th  September,  1843,  Maria  Theresa, 
eldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Charles  Thomas  Clifford. , 

*'  Stet  fortana  Domoa  et  avi  numerentur  avorttm." 


No.  II. 
Beferaiile  to  pages  2  and  9. 

Ex  vitd  D.  Erancisci  Tregian,  Authore  Francisco  Plunketto, 
Nepote  ejus  Fatemo,  Ulissipone  impress^.     Anno  1655  in  12°. 

'*  Aulam  Elizabethse  adit  (ingruente  persecutione)  ut  Catholicis 
opem  aliquam  ferret,  duct&  jam  in  conjugem  Marid,  Baronis  Stur- 
tonisB  filia.  Begina  per  pedisseouam  ilium  invitat  ad  cubiculum 
intempest^  nocte ;  recusantem  adit,  lectoque  assidens  ad  impudica 
provocat,  recusantem  increpat.  Castitatis  busb  curam  gerens,  ex 
Aula  se  proripuit  insalutata  Beginft ;  quae  idcirco  furit  et  in  car- 
cerem  detrudi  jubet.    Factum  id  8  Junii,  1577." 

*'16  Septembris,  ad  tribunal  ductus  est  Cuthbert  Manus, 
sacerdos  ejus,  cum  quindecim  famulis ;  hi  perpetuo  carceri  manci- 
pati;  sacerdos  condemnatus,  et  postea  more  proditorum  suspensus." 

Page  13. — "  Franciscus  perpetuo  carceri  damnatus ;  bona  omnia 
fisco  adjudicata." 

Page  17. — "  Triennio  et  amplius  crudelissime  tractatur  in  carcere 
Londinensi,  ad  quern  pro  magno  favore  translatus  fuerat  ex  alio, 
ubi  tribus  mensibus  non  minus  inhumaniter  habitus  fuerat." 

Page  82. — ''Yiginti  septem  annos  in  vinculis  transegit;  turn 
liber  fugit  Madritum,  ubi  a  Philippe  1X1°  humanissime  tractatum, 
sexaginta  aureis  illi  in  menses  singulos  assignatis.  Yaletudinis 
caasl  Olissiponem  migravit,  ubi  saficte  obiit  25  Septembris, 
1608;  17  post  annos  corpus  repertum  incorruptum,  et  pliurima 


204  APPENDIX. 

per  reliquias  patrata  miracula,  qase  recensentur  ab  ordinario 
approbata." 

N.B.  The  style  of  the  work  is  obscure  and  uDclassical.  In  the 
Epistle  to  the  Header  he  relates  the  miserable  deaths  of  the  per- 
secutors of  Sir  Francis  Tregian. 

Cornelius  a  Lapide,  in  his  Commentary  on  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to 
the  Hebrews  (chap,  x.),  says : — "  Ferunt  D.  Franciscum  Tregianum 
cum  sententia  de  amissione  bononim  et  perpetuis  carceribus 
ferenda  esset,  bysso  candid4  vestitum  comparuisse,  et  post  latam 
sententiam  dixisse :  Pereant  bona,  quae  si  non  periissent,  fortassis 
Dominum  perdidissent.** 

In  the  "  Catholic  Miscellany ''  of  June,  1823,  I  inserted  an 
unpublished  letter,  written  ^m  Lisbon  by  F.  Ignatius  Stafford, 
S.  J.,  to  Francis  Forcer,  of  the  same  society,  at  Madrid,  bearing 
date  26th  April,  1626.  Dodd,  in  his  Church  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  171, 
had  lost  sigat  of  this  great  confessor  after  his  visit  to  Douay 
College  in  July,  1606. 

"  Eetbbsnd  Fatheb, — I  will  rehearse  unto  you  the  sequent 
case  which  happened  yesterday,  the  25th  of  this  present,  by 
reason  of  a  certain  grave  was  then  opened,  wherein  an  English 
knight  had  been  formerly  buried,  as  in  the  book  of  the  Prefect  of 
the  Church  is  found  briefly  set  down  as  follows  : — 

" '  Nesta  cava  esta  enterrado  Don  Francisco  Tregian,  Cavallero 
Ingles,  qui  estuve  preso  em  Inglaterra  por  la  sancta  Fe  28  anos ; 
sendo  Suo'  principal  de  multoa  vasallos  conchez  tomarem  tota  sua 
fazenda ;  em  flm  aesterrado  de  Inglaterra  neo  para  esta  ciudad  de 
Lisboa,  com  entretenimento  que  o  Key  che  deo  de  60  cruzadoa 
cada  mes ;  e  sendo  da  idade  de  60  anos ;  e  levado  a  nosto  Sen'  em 
Paraiso  25  de  Setembro,  1608.'* 

**  This  is  verbatim  that  which  is  found  in  the  prefect's  book, 
which  some  three  weeks  agone  I  read ;  by  chance  finding  the  book 
open  in  the  same  place,  and  then  understood  what  this  gentleman 
was,  and  found  in  the  house  by  fathers  who  knew  him  great  tes*- 
timonies  of  his  sanctity.  His  grave  being  yesterday  opened,  his 
body  was  found  incorrupt  [and  entire,  without  corruption  in  any 
part,  so  much  as  in  nose,  ears,  or  stomach,  or  any  other  part  most 
subject  unto  corruption ;  yea,  even  his  bowels  were  whole ;  neither 

*  Mr.  Madden  discoyered  recently  in  this  church  of  St.  Rock  the  sepulchral 
stone  and  epitaph  of  this  illustrious  confessor  of  Catholic  faith ;  but  I  much 
regret  his  inattention  to  dates.  He  has  recorded,  however,  the  daily  form  of 
prayer  of  this  victim  of  Elixabeth's  remorseless  vengeance,  during  his  long 
captivity. 

**  Dens  Immortalis  I  Solamen  peccatorum  I  abige  k  me  procul  omnem  pusil- 
lanimitatis  speciem,  nee  me  obruat  servilis  metns.     Amen." 

It  reminds  one  of  the  prayer  of  that  other  victim,  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

*'  O  Domine  Deus,  confido  in  Te : 
O  care  mi  Jesu,  nunc  libera  me  : 
In  dura  catenfi,  in  misrra  poena,  speravi  in  Te ; 
Languendo,  gemendo,  et  genuflectendo, 
Adoro,  imploro,  ut  liberes  me." 


APPENDIX,  205 

did  any  evil  savour  or  smell  proceed  from  it.  His  hair  is  upon  his 
head  and  beard ;  his  nails  upon  his  hands  and  feet ;  and,  as  I  said, 
all  whole  and  entire;  his  flesh  soft,  and  being  pressed  down, 
riseth  up  again ;  his  arms,  lingers,  and  legs,  flexible.  Finally,  all 
that  have  resorted  hither,  physicians  and  others,  judge  the  matter 
to  be  miraculous.  Por  it  is  seventeen  years  since  he  was  buried ; 
and  some  five  years  ago  there  was  buried  in  the  same  grave  a  young 
youth  (though  not  laid  so  deep  as  this  body),  which  is  altogether 
consumed.  Moreover,  in  this  our  church,  we  find  by  experience 
that  all  such  persons  as  are  buried  therein  are  soon  corrupted. 
Some  have  confessed  they  endeavoured  to  pull  off  his  fingers  and 
nails,  but  could  not.  Also  another  particular  circumstance  happened 
to  be  found,  and  was  that  all  the  Franciscan  habit  wherein  he  was 
buried  was  consumed,  save  only  so  much  as  was  sufficient  to  cover 
his  members  about  a  span  length  and  breadth,  which  was  found 
entire.  This  is  the  present  case  briefly  (hereafter  we  shall  have  more 
to  write)  which  hath  so  sounded  in  this  city,  that  although  we  do 
not  show  the  body  in  public,  until  the  matter  be  juridically  ex- 
amined  and  allowea  by  the  archbishop  ;  yet  the  concourse  of  people 
of  all  sorts  both  yesternight  and  this  day  is  so  extreme,  that  both 
the  street,  church,  and  courts  are  thronged  in  such  sort,  that 
we  cannot  resort  to  the  gate  to  speak  with  such  as  come  to  visit 
and  with  business ;  and  whether  we  will  or  no,  many,  especially 
gentlemen  and  religious,  enter.  This  is  all  for  the  present.  Thus 
I  rest  this  26th  of  April,  1625,  Lisbon. 

"  VestrsB  Beverenti®  in  Christo, 

"Ignatius  STArroBD."* 

The  reader  may  see  prefixed  to  the  Eev.  Bichard  Verstegan's 
"  Bestitution  of  Decayed  Intelligence,"  a  complimentary  sonnet 
to  the  author  bv  this  F.  Tregian. 

In  the  "Catholic  Miscellany"  of  1823,  p.  193,  may  be  seen  a 
life  of  this  honoured  confessor ;  but  it  has  many  strange  mistakes. 


No.  III. 

Beferahle  to  page  20. 

In  the  chancel  of  the  parish  church  of  Marldon,  near  Paignton, 
Devon,  I  copied  from  the  gravestone  the  following  epitaph : — 

"  Sub  hoc  tumulo  jacent  Eduardus  Caraeus,  Auratorum  Equitum 
insigne  Decus,  et  uxor  ejus  Margeria,  senile  admodum  Par, 
singulari  Numinis  favore  tam  in  exitu,  quam  in  decursu  vitae, 
doDatum.  Cum  enim  annos  ultra  quinquaginta  conjugali  federe 
traduxissent,  octogenariam  aniniam  reddente  Eduardo,  corripitur 
et  morbo   baud  invite   Margeria    ceditque  mox   consimili  fato, 

*  This  reverend  fAther  died  at  Lisbon  on  11th  February,  1642,  aged  forty- 
three.     F.  Forcer  sorrived  until  5th  March,  1655,  at.  seventy-two. 


206  APPENDIX. 

Buperesse  Yiro  nescia:  sic  uter^ue  yixit,  sic  uterque  moritur: 
difficile  dixeris,  *  num  vivos  magis  coluerit  Patria  an  mortuos 
luxerit.  Qaid  plura?  Hoc  uno  tantum  infelices  extitSre,  quod 
infelicem  Fatriam  8u4  morte  reddidisse  videantur. 

"  Obiit  uterque  Ann.  Dom.  1654 :  ille  14  Junii,  ADtatis  sua  80 : 
ilia  vero  19  ejusdem  Junii,  SDtatis  su®  85.'* 

N.B.  She  was  of  the  Blackhurst  family  in  Lancashire.  ^ 


No.  IV. 

Beferdble  to  page  86. 

The  following  document  I  copied  from  the  handwriting  of 
John  Arundell,  and  dated  "  Lanheme,  the  8th  day  of  November, 
1697,"  throws  light  on  his  family.    The  writer  died  in  1701. 

"  My  grandfather,  or  rather  my  grandmother  who  governed  all 
his  affairs,  had  so  great  an  apprehension,  or  at  least  pretended  to 
have,  of  my  father's  consuming  all  the  estate  after  them,  that  they 
tied  him  up  with  such  an  entail,  as  that,  if  he  had  kept  up  to  the 
strict  letter  of  it,  he  would  scarce  have  had  a  very  bare  subsist- 
ence out  of  it.  As  it  was,  what  with  my  grandmother's  funeral, 
whom  he  brought  out  of  Wales  into  Cornwall,  and  cost  him,  as  I 
have  been  informed,  £800 — my  education  abroad,  which  came  to 
a  great  deal — his  repairing  my  mother's  house.  Long  wood,  in 
which,  as  his  servant  has  told  me,  he  laid  out  £600,  and  some 
other  accidents,  forced  him  to  leave  a  considerable  debt,  somewhat 
above  £3,000,  which  I  have  not  onlv  faithfully  paid,  but  even  his 
very  legacies  to  the  last  farthing,  although,  by  the  known  law  of 
England,  I  was  not  liable  to  either.  It  lav  always  heavy  upon  me 
to  consider  how  open  to  question  many  of  those  estates  were,  his 
necessities  forced  him  to  grant ;  and  resolved,  whensoever  I  could 
find  an  expedient  for  it,  to  make  them  good,  which  by  all  the 
advice  I  could  take,  there  was  no  other  way,  than  when  my  son 
should  come  to  be  of  age,  to  cut  off  the  entail.  It  pleased  &od 
that  both  my  sons  died  before  they  came  to  be  of  age ;  so  I  was 
forced  to  have  recourse  unto  my  brother,  to  join  me  in  the  docking 
of  the  entail,  of  which  I  had  aa  good  advice  as  was  to  be  had  in 
England,  and  for  the  which  I  gave  him  one  way  or  other,  £4,000, 
and  after  certain  conditions  agreed  to,  the  estate  resettled  upon 
him  and  his  heirs  male,  which  I  did,  as  greatly  apprehending  the 
credit  his  wife  had  with  him  (who  was  able  to  persuade  him  to 
anything  was  in  her  power).  There  was  in  this  new  settlement, 
provision  for  my  two  daughters,  and  for  his  daughter;  and  aa 
much  as  was  then  due,  has  been  accordingly  paid,  and  what 
remains,  secured.  After  this  there  is  a  proviso,  that  in  case  I 
outlived  him,  and  he  left  no  issue  male,  it  should  be  in  my  power 
to  dispose  of  the  estate  as  I  pleased,  either  by  any  writing  under 
my  hand  and  seal,  or  by  my  last  will  and  testament.  Now  it 
hath  pleased  Almighty  Gbd,  that  I  have  outlived  my  brother 


APPENDIX.  207 

(who  left  no  he^r  male)  these  manj  years;  wherefore,  findiog 
myself  absolutely  free  to  dispose  of  my  estate  as  I  think  best,  I 
have  given  it  to  my  daughter,  Dame  Frances  Belling,  for  the 
reasons  here  following : — 1st,  because  my  own  child  is  nearer  and 
dearer  to  me  than  any  other  relation,  she  being  no  less  nearer  in 
nature,  or  dearer  to  me  than  if  she  were  a  son,  and  I  think  it  a 
barbarity  not  to  prefer  my  own  child  before  any  relation.  And 
tell  me  not  of  perpetuating  a  family ;  it  is  a  vanity  and  pride  dis- 
pleasing to  the  Great  Disposer  of  all  things,  to  think  to  make 
that  for  ever  durable,  that  he  has  determined  shall  be  subject  to 
the  common  mutability  of  all  earthly  things.  Next,  I  have  stipu- 
lated, that  her  children,  who  I  hope  will  live  to  succeed  her,  shall 
take  the  name  of  Arundell,  and  so  maintain  it  as  long  as  it  shall 
please  Gk>d  to  permit,  I  have  not  (although  my  youngest  daughter 
has  left  children)  divided  the  estate,  as  it  is  too  little  to  bear  that. 
To  one,  it  will  give  a  fair  subsistence :  betwixt  two,  it  will  signify 
little :  besides  that,  I  have  given  a  very  considerable  portion  to 
my  youngest  daughter,  £4,000  at  present,  and  £4,000  more  is 
secured  to  her  husoand,  after  my  decease. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  many  difficulties  I  have  run  through  the 
whole  course  of  my  life,  yet  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to 
preserve  me  to  a  great  old  ^e  without  want,  and  when  I  consider 
what  I  have  ^one  through,  I  cannot  but  with  the  highest  sense  of 
gratitude  and  thanks  acknowledge  the  infinite  bounty  of  Gtod  to 
me.  I  came  to  my  estate  almost  in  the  midst  of  the  civil  war.  I 
have  paid  for  my  father's  debts  and  legacies  £8,300  and  odd 
pounds.  I  underwent  many  years  sequestration,  I  know  not  well 
now  many  myself.  It  cost  me  very  near  £3,000  to  get  off  at  last. 
I  have  married  my  two  daughters  and  given  them  ^,000  apiece. 
I  have  paid  to  my  brother's  daughter  £2,000,  and  secured  to  her 
husband  £1,000  more  after  my  decease.  I  have  &[iven  and  paid 
£5,000  to  my  granddaughter  Hales.  I  have  bought  an  estate  for 
my  grandson  Dick  BeluDg,  which  cost  me  near  £3,000,  and  I 
hope  to  leave  him  and  his  brother  John,  and  his  little  sister,  some 
further  remembrance  of  my  kindness,  notwithstanding  the  infi- 
delity of  a  servant  I  too  much  trusted  in  my  troubles,  by  whom  I 
have  suffered,  one  way  or  other,  to  well  near  the  value  ot  £4,000. 

"  JoHK  Abukdbll." 


No.  V. 

Beferable  to  page  106. 

In  page  105  I  have  spoken  of  the  sanguinary  farce  and 
tragedy  of  Oates's  plot,  but  to  show  the  system  pursued  by  the 
English  cabinet  from  Queen  Elizabeth's  reign  I  copy  part  of  a 
letter  written  by  Anthony  "Windsor,  who  died  in  the  year  1697. 
He  was  son  of  Sir  Edmund  Windsor,  Knight,  and  great-grandson 
of  Sir  Anthony  Windsor,  Knight,  brother  of  the  Andrew  W  indsor 
who  was  created  Baron  of  Stanwell,  and  summoned  to  Farlia^ 


208  APPENDIX. 

ment  3rd  November,  anno  21  Henry  VIII.  The  learned  and 
pioua  Pacifieus  Baker,  O.S.F.,  wlio  died  16th  March,  1774,  set.  80, 
copied  it  from  the  original. 

"  SiE, — ^Being  now  in  the  75th  year  of  my  age,  and  thinking  it 

f  roper  to  leave  you  some  memoirs  of  the  transactions  of  my  time, 
shall  in  the  first  place  set  down  as  a  key  to  all  the  rest,  a 
remarkable  passage  that  happened  some  time  before  the  restora- 
tion of  the  lite  King  Charles  II.  In  the  time  of  Oliver's  usurpa- 
tion the  reputed  delinquents  and  recusants  were  necessitated  to 
endeavour  to  make  their  compositions  as  well  as  they  could  ;  and 
for  that  purpose  to  attend  upon  the  several  committees,  both  at 
London  and  in  the  country,  as  their  different  circumstances 
required,  and  make  what  interest  they  could  for  the  mitigation  of 
the  high  impositions  laid  upon  them.  On  this  troublesome  occa- 
sion Sir  William  Pershall,  a  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance,  who 
had  been  cotemporary  student  and  fellow-reveller  with  the  great 
Bradshaw  at  Gray's  Inn,  and  by  that  means  had  contracted  a 
great  friendship  with  him,  found  himself  obliged  to  apply  to  him 
for  assistance.  Many  years  had  intervened  since  they  had  lived 
together ;  but  yet,  upon  Sir  William's  first  address  to  Bradshaw, 
he  assured  him  of  the  continuance  of  hU  friendship,  and  that  he 
would  confirm  it  by  any  favours  be  would  do  him,  or  any  friend 
of  his.  And  I  have  heard  Sir  William  affirm  it  to  the  gentlemen, 
his  friends,  at  the  club  or  meeting  then  held  in  Hen  and  Chickens 
Court,  near  St.  Dunstan's  Church  in  Fleet  Street  (where  Sir 
William  constantly  resorted),  that  he  had  experienced  his  favour 
both  to  himself  and  others,  and  that  he  gave  him  freedom  of 
access  to  him  at  any  time  since  upon  his  occasions.  And  I 
remember  he  told  us,  that  he  had  waited  upon  him  once  at  his 
closet,  in  or  near  to  the  council  chamber ;  and  being  thus  alone, 
Bradshaw,  afler  his  free  and  familiar  way,  asked  him,  '  Sir 
William,  what  do  you  think  I  am  doing  p' 

"  Sir  William  answered  he  could  not  guess,  no  otherwise  than 
that  he  was  busy  about  the  affairs  of  his  great  employ. 

"  *  iSir,'  said  Bradshaw,  *  I  am  gtudyiftff  politicks.  They  have 
made  me  president  of  their  council ;  and  lam  reading  Mr.  Secretary 
CeciVs  instructions  left  them  :  and  pray  you,  see  how  you  Papists 
are  to  be  dealt  with.  For  this,  I  assure  you,  is  the  Secretary's  own 
hand,^  giving  him  a  loose  sheet  of  paper,  out  of  many  others.  Sir 
William  read  it  carefully ;  and,  I  remember,  told  us  of  the  club, 
that  the  substance  of  it  was — 

"That  the  ministry  should  by  no  means  be  ever  induced  to 
take  off  the  penal  laws ;  but  that  when  they  perceived  that  by 
their  connivance  and  forbearing  to  put  them  in  execution,  the 
Papists  began  to  be  too  popular  and  agreeable  both  to  their  neigh- 
bours in  the  country  and  to  their  relations  and  friends  at  court, 
as  bv  their  moral  and  charitable  way  of  living  they  would  not  fail 
to  do,  and  even  to  be  thought  to  deserve  the  privileges  and 
freedom  of  other  subjects,  and  not  the  severity  of  persecution, 


APPSNDIX.  209 

merely  for  their  oonBoience ;  then  to  obviate  and  allay  thia  good 
opinion  of  their  relations  and  neigbbourSy  the  ministry  must  be 
sure  to  fix  mme  odious  duign  upon  them^  which  would  never  fail 
to  be  believed  by  the  generality  of  the  common  people,  and  then 
they  might  put  the  penal  laws  in  execution  to  what  degree  they 
should  thuiK  necessarv  against  them;  and  people  woidd  think 
them  kind  and  &vourable  to  let  the  Papists  hve.  But  they  must 
never  permit  or  suffer  themselves  to  be  prevailed  with,  to  take  off 
the  penal  laws ;  but  reserve  them  as  a  bridle,  to  keep  the  Papists 
out  of  all  public  employ  in  their  country,  and  to  depress  them, 
whenever  they  should  think  it  necessary,  or  find  them  grow 
more  nnmerouSy  or  in  greater  favour  and  esteem  with  their 
neighbours." 

This,  sir,  I  remember  very  well  was  the  substance  of  what  Sir 
William  told  us  he  had  read  in  that  paper.  And  I  ^ve  you  this 
account  of  it  the  rather,  because  as  I  heafd  him  speak  it  and  attest 
it  as  a  matter  of  fiust  and  a  real  truth,  so  I  have  often  refiected 
upon  it,  finding  our  modem  state  ministers  pursuing  the  said 
method  exactly.  Eor  upon  the  restauration  of  King  Cnarles  II., 
when  the  poor  Catholics,  to  a  man  almost  able  to  bear  arms,  had 
either  fought  or  suffered  for  his  father,  addressed  his  first  Parliar 
ment,  and  petitioned,  that  in  consideration  of  what  they  had  done 
and  suffered  in  his  service,  and  of  their  having  been  so  signally 
instrumental  (as  it  had  pleased  GK>d  to  make  them)  in  securing 
his  then  present  Majesty^s  person  from  falling  into  his  enemies' 
hands,  after  the  battle  of  Worcester,  they  might  be  favourably 
looked  u^on  and  admitted  into  the  rank  and  privileges  of  his 
other  subjects,  by  removing  those  heavy  penal  laws  so  long  kept 
hanginff  over  their  heads,  and  debazring  them  from  all  the  privi- 
leges of  their  birthright,  and  even  enjoyed  by  those  that  had  been 
in  that  long  rebellion  against  his  father  and  himself;  it  waa 
opposed  by  a  great  statesman  and  could  not  be  obtained.  A 
toleration  and  connivance,  however,  was  thought  fit  to  be  per- 
mitted them,  with  a  cessation  from  the  execution  of  those  penal 
laws  during  their  pleasure.  And  this  the  Catholics  very  con* 
tentedl)r  acquiesced  unto,  till  about  the  middle  of  King  Charles 
II.'8  reign,  as  being  no  ways  ambitious  of  bearing  any  nublic 
offices.  About  that  time  the  restless  Presbyterian  humour  be^an 
again  to  work ;  and  it  was  urged  in  Parliament,  that  the  exemption 
granted  to  the  Papists  was  a  greater  benefit  and  advantage  than 
the  rest  of  the  Dissenting  subjects  enjoyed,  and  therefore  it  waa 
thought  fit  that  they  ought  at  least  to  bear  a  double  share  of  tiie 
taxes.  But  the  king,  li^g  very  well  satisfied  of  the  loyal  prin- 
ciples and  practices  of  his  Catholic  subjects,  took  off  that  pretence 
by  setting  forth  his  proclamation  for  a  general  toleration  and 
indvdgence  to  all  his  subjects  in  the  exercise  of  their  religion,  that 
should  not  by  their  preaching  and  practices  disturb  the  peace  of 
the  kingdom.  But  this  gave  so  great  a  disgust  to  some  of  our 
principiu  ministers  of  state,  that  Prince  Bu^rt  and  some  of  the 
sing's  chief  court  favourites  were  employed  to  solicit  and  press 


910  APPBKDIX. 

hhn  to  reoal  thai  prodamalioii,  and  to  au^geet  to  him  that  it 
would  be  resented  by  his  Parliament  at  their  next  session — ^that 
they  would  give  him  no  aids  nor  taxes  till  he  had  recalled  it,  and 
perhaps  woiud  vote  him  incapable  of  doing  it  without  them.  This 
movea  the  king,  whose  profuse  expenses  made  him  always  wanting 
of  money,  to  recal  the  proclamation  ;  and  thereby  he  encoura^d 
our  discontented  cunning  statesmen,  and  gave, them  an  occasion 
to  forge  and  foment  that  execrable  pretended  Popish  plot,  which 
was  set  on  foot  soon  after,  to  the  destruction  of  divers  honest, 
innocent  gentlemen  and  others,  and  to  the  hazard  of  ruining  the 
whole  body  of  them  throughout  the  nation.  But  that  being 
blown  over  with  time,  and  the  Qovemment  grown  weary  of 
sheddinc;  so  much  innocent  blood  merely  upon  the  oaths  of  a 
pack  or  perjured  villains  and  gaol-birds  (indemnified  and  pen- 
sioned for  that  end)  as  having  found  by  all  the  strictest  searches, 
imprisonments,  secret  usage,  examinations,  and  executions,  and 
oven  by  the  dying  speeches  of  those  that  suffered,  they  could  not 
discover  the  least  tendency  to  or  footsteps  of  sucn  a  horrid 
design  as  the  infamous  Oates,  his  tutors  and  accomplices,  had 
suggested  and  sworn  a^^ainst  the  Catholicks  (they  ail  at  their 
deaths  nrotesting  their  innocence,  and  the  inconsistency  of  such 
damnable  designs  with  their  £uth  and  religion).  However,  the 
late  memoz^r  of  it  served  our  malicious  Presbyterians  to  screen 
their  own  wicked  and  real  plot  to  destroy  the  king  and  duke  of 
York,  and  then  (bad  it  not  pleased  Gk>d  to  prevent  them  in  the 
very  execution  of  it)  to  lay  it  upon  the  Catholics  and  spread  the 
report  of  it  through  the  whole  nation,  in  order  to  their  destruc- 
tion. This  was  confessed  by  some  of  the  chief  actors,  who  were 
condemned  and  executed,  and  by  others  who  were  convicted  of 
that  cursed  design,  and  had  their  pardon.  The  king  dying  some 
few  years  after,  &o.  Here,  the  fiit  aocompU  of  the  revolution 
suggested  caution  to  Anthony  Windsor,  the  writer. 

**  PericaloMe  plenum  opus  alese 
Tractai ;  et  inoedii  per  ignes 
Svppoiitos  cineri  doloto." 


No.  VI. 

Brferahle  to  page  189. 

I  have  seen  a  letter,  of  the  Abbess  Howse  addressed  to  Thomas 
Weld,  of  Lullworth,  Esq.,  detailing  the  wonderful  cure  wrought 
on  a  lay  sister  of  her  convent  at  Taunton,  29th  August,  1809. 
Dr.  Woodfbrdy  who  had  attended  the  patient  from  March  that 
year,  and  had  given  his  decided  opinion  on  the  impossibility  of  a 
cure,  on  vritnessing  this  extraordinary  event,  "  burst  into  tears, 
and  declared  he  must  acknowledge  it  was  an  evident  miracle,  and 
a  wonderful  interposition  of  divine  F^vidQnce  to  show  the  efficacy 


APPENDIX.  211 

of  fiuth  and  pnyer.**    I  subjoin  a  certificate  of  this  supernatural 
event,  in  perpeiuam  rei  memariam. 

^Attestation  and  account  of  a  miraculous  cure  of  the  arm  of 
sister  Mary  Ann  Wood,  one  of  our  community,  in  the  year  1809. 

**  On  the  15th  of  March,  1809,  she  went  to  open  a  sash-window 
in  the  washhouse,  to  let  out  the  steam,  and  in  doing  so  ran  her 
hand  and  arm  through  a  pane  of  glasR,  by  which  her  arm  was  cut 
transversely  to  a  great  depth.  The  surgeon  declared  the  muscles 
and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  tendons  to  be  divided ;  she  suffered 
for  above  four  months  the  most  acute  pain.  Though  the  wound 
itself  was  (outwardly)  healed  in  three  weeks  after  the  accident, 
the  swelling  continued  much  longer;  but  in  proportion  as  it 
abated  the  mischief  done  became  more  apparent.  The  hand  and 
arm  remained  entirely  useless ;  and  the  suigeon  remarked  it  was 
a  necessary  and  natural  consequence  of  the  mvision  of  the  muscles 
and  tendons.  The  ends  of  one  of  the  tendons  were  visiblv  two 
inches  asunder ;  gradually  the  arm  seemed  to  contract,  and  with 
the  hand  appeared  to  wither.  After  various  trials  of  skill,  the 
surgeon  declared  it  his  opinion  that  she  never  could  a^^ain  have 
the  entire  use  of  her  hand,  though  she  might  of  the  tore-finger 
and  thumb ;  but  that  all  the  H^ments  or  support  of  the  two 
middle  fingers  were  eone.  Sister  Mary  Ann,  with  the  approbation 
of  the  reverend  mother  abbess,  determined  to  make  a  novena  in 
honour  of  St.  Winifred:  she  had  no  idea  of  asking  for  a  miracle ; 
but  confidently  believed  and  hoped,  that  He  who  made  her 
arm,  would  restore  to  her,  through  the  intercession  of  the  Saint, 
some  small  use  of  it.  On  the  6th  of  August  she  put  a  piece  of 
moss  from  Holywell  on  her  arm,  and  began  her  novena  ;  after  this 
she  suffered  excruciating  pain  in  it,  so  that  she  was  tempted  to 
take  off  the  moss,  till  she  reasoned  with  herself  that  it  could  not 
naturally  occasion  sudi  pain.  She  continued  particularly  col- 
lected all  that  evening,  and  praying  mentally  without  takins  notice 
of  her  arm.  To  her  great  surprise,  when  she  got  up  the  next 
morning,  she  found  it  perfectlv  cured !  Her  joy  and  cratitude  were 
unbounded,  when,  on  repeated  trials,  she  found  her  hand  and  arm 
really  restored  to  their  full  strength.  The  surgeon  at  first  de- 
dared  the  cure  a  miracle ;  but  human  respects  prevented  him  from 
publidy  attesting  it. 

^  The  bishop  of  the  district,  the  right  Bev.  Dr.  CoUingridge, 
after  havine  consulted  Dr.  Carpenter,  an  eminent  surgeon  of 
London,  and  verified  the  acddent  and  cure  throughout  every  cir- 
cumstance, gave  it  as  his  decided  opinion  that  the  cure  was  super- 
natural and  an  evident  miracle. 

*'  That  the  particulars  mav  be  accurately  and  authenticallv  re- 
corded, we  the  undersigned  have  drawn  up  this  account,. and  set 
our  names  to  it  as  eye-witnesses  of  the  facts  herein  contained." 

(Signed  by  the  Abbess,  Discretes,  and  Infirmarian.) 
^  This  copy  is  taken  from  the  Archives." 

p  2 


APPKNOIX« 

Bifihop  Collingridge  informed  me  that  he  BubBeqnenUy  met 
Dr.  Woodford  in  the  Market-plaoe  of  Tannton,  who  affirmed  to. 
him,  in  the  presence  of  the  Bev.  Edward  Weetman,  that  he  had 
no  doubt  that  the  cure  waa  Bupematural  and  an  evident  miracle. 
I  saw  the  arm  in  NoTember,  1810,  and  was  quite  satisfied  on  the 
point. 

This  worthy  laj  sister  survived  until  16th  January,  1847,  and 
would  have  completed  ninety  years  of  age,  had  she  lived  a  day 
longer. 

£i  the  sacrisiy  of  the  convent  church  at  Taunton  is  the  fol- 
lowing tribute  of  gratitude  to  the  memory  of  their  great  bene- 
factor, the  late  Thomas  Weld,  Esq. : — 

Yirgines 
Deo  Sacne 

Saoerdotes  quotquot  hue  sacra  facturi  Kal.  Sextil.  acoessistia 

5recamur  qufesumus<],  uti  memoriam  agatis  viri  clarissimi 
'homiB  Weld,  qui  pridie  Kalend.  Seztiles,  anno  M.DCCG.X.,  festo 
S.  Ignatii  die,  cum  de  more  sacra  de  Altari  reverenter  libasset, 
morbo  repentino  correptus,  postridie  magno  bonorum  omnium 
luctui  placido  exitu  e  vita  emigravit.  Is  a  pueriti4  ad  omnem 
pietatem  excultus,  divitiarum  contemptor,  egenorum  alter  ac 
Bolator,  ju8titi4  et  beneficenti4  omnibus  charus.  Nobis  pnecipuo 
jure  charissimus  semper  audiet,  quod  super  c»tera  beneficia,  in 
immani  ill4  totius  Belgii  vastitate  anno  M.DCC.LXXXXIY.  cum 
Bru^nsi  nostro  CoBuobio  essemus  dilaj^ssD,  tot  casibus  exhaustas, 
ommum  egenas  dome  sociavit,  ad  reliqui  temporis  spem  erexit,  et 
ad  sedem  stabilem  hie  moliendam  consilio  atque  opibus  adjuvit. 
Ne  tantsd  pietatis  memoria  intercideret,  hiec  Litteris  consignari 
placuit,  cum  m^orem  Patrono  bene  merenti  gratiam  habetunuSi 
quam  titulo  scribi  possit. 

E.  I.  P. 


The  above  inscription  was  from  the  pen  of  their  friend,  the 
Bev.  Charles  Plowden,  S.J. 


The  following  anniversaries  I  copied  from  an  old  Prayer-book 
once  belonging  to  a  member  of  the  Howard  family : — 

Ja».— Henry  Howard,  duke  of  Norfolk 11  Jan.  1684 

William  Lord  Petre 6  do.    1688 

William  Dormer   27  do. 

Lady  Molineux 29  do. 

i%J.— Eobert  Browne 27  Feb.  1673 

Prancis  Hyldesley 26  do.   1682 

March — Francis,  earl  of  Shrewsbury 16  March 

WilliamMoore 17  do.     1671 


AFFENDIX«  213f 

JtfiircA— The  Lady  Ann  Shrewsburjr 22  March 

Anne,  duchess  of  York 81  do.     1671 

4pr»Z— Charies,  earl  of  Berkshire    14  April,  1679 

Lady  Aim  Worcester  9  do. 

Elizabeth  Phillipson 27  do.    1681 

Ma^—Old  Lady  Moore  died  on 12  May,  1653 

Ann  Moore    13  do. 

Sir  Walter  Blount    19  do.    1671 

P.  Dormer..... 17  do. 

Edmund  Ployden 24  do.    1673 

Charles  Blount 29  do.    1685 

James  Giflford   80  do. 

E.  H 81  do. 

Jii#i«— Thomas  Moore 2  June,  1688 

Lady  Frances  Yates 8  do. 

Margaret  Phillipson 9  do.     1681 

Lady  Marshall  13  do. 

My  dearest,  child  Fra.  Moore,  died...    3  do.    1683 

Catherine  Browne 25  do.    1688    ' 

July — Lady  Alice  Dormer 2  July,1650 

Charles  Prothero  4  do. 

John  Hide 15  do.    1676 

Henry  Arlington  28  do. 

^.— T.  Howard....; 3  Aug. 

Lord  William  Stourton    8  do.    1685 

David  Lewis,  at  TJske  27  do. 

Sq)i. — Old  Sir  Francis  Moore 2  Sept. 

Elizabeth  Dormer 14  do. 

My  Lady  Camaby    21   do. 

My  deare  father,  W.  H 24  do. 

Oc^.— Henry  Jemeean   6  Oct.  1680 

My  own  mother's  anniversary 11  do. 

My  brother,  E.  H 13  do. 

Bichard  Dormer    17  do. 

Sir  William  Dormer 22  do. 

Eobert  Dormer,  at  Peterly 28  do. 

Ifov. — Gteorge  Phillipson 9  Nov. 

Anne  Byron 11  do.    1652 

Mary  Dormer    11   do.    1679 

Lord  Bobert  Dormer    18  do. 

Edmund  Ployden 23  do.    1677 

In  the  handwriting  of  Henry,  the  8th  Lord  Arundell  (who  died 
at  Wardour,  4th  December,  1808,  set.  68),  I  found  the  following 
fiimily  anniversaries : — 

Jan,  14. — ^Mamiret  Lady  Arundell. 

22.— Sir  Matthew  Arundell,  Knt. 
Feb.  10.— Thomas  Lord  Arundell. 

24.— Eichard  Arundell,  of  Lanheme,  1725. 


214  APPENDIX. 

FA.  26.— Sir  Thomas  ArandeU,  Ent 

28.— Frances  Lady  aiffiird,*1752. 
March  10. — Mrs.  Mary  Arundel],  my  great  aunt^  1777. 

21. — Cecily  Lady  Arundell. 

22. — ^Mary  Lady  Arundell,  mry  mother,  1769. 

— . — Mrs.  Mary  Arundell,  or  Prinoess'-street. 

81.— Thomas  Arundell,  Esq.,  of  Bath,  1784,  SDt.  66. 
April  21. — ^Henry  Lord  Arundell. 
May   9. — Elizabeth  Lady  Arundell. 

19. — Thomas  Lord  ArundeU. 

22.— Elizabeth  Eleanor  Lady  ArundelL 
June  28. — ^Ann  Lady  Arundell. 

80. — Henry  Lord  Arundell. 
July  21. — Mr.  Thomas  ArundeU,  my  brother,  1781. 

28. — Mar^;aret  Lady  Arundell. 
Aug.  12. — Mana  Lady  Arundell. 

25. — ^Ann  Arundell,  of  Lanheme,  my  grandmother, 
in  1718. 
Sept,  12. — Henry  Lord  ArundeU,  my  &ther,  1756. 

29. — ^Ann  Lady  Arundell. 
Oct.  10. — Hon.  Ann  Arundell,  mv  great  aunt,  1778. 

28. — Blanche  Lady  Arundell. 
Nov,  7. — ^Thomas  Lord  Arundell. 
Dec,  23. — Margaret  Lady  Arundell. 

27. — ^Henry  Lord  ArundelL 


No.  VII. 

Brferahle  to  page  161.  . 

Synopsis  of  the  informations  against  St.  Susan's  monastery  at 
LuUworth,  in  1816,  and  of  the  correspondence  with  the  English 
Goyernment  in  consequence. 

That  false  brother,  James  Power,  mentioned  in  page  161,  made 
an  affidayit  on  16th  March,  1816,  to  the  following  effect  before 
James  Prampton,  Esq.,  William  Glavell,  Esq.,  and  Henry 
Seymour,  Esq.,  magistrates  of  the  county  of  Dorset. 

"  That  he  was  then  twenty-four  years  of  age ;  that  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  had  entered  the  monastery  of  La  Trappe,  in  East 
LuUworth ;  that  he  had  been  admitted  to  the  religious  profession, 
and  had  been  ordained  sub-deacon  in  London;  that  the  general  of  his 
order,  Dom  Augustine  de  Lestrange,  coming  to  England  engaged 
deponent  to  accompany  him  to  Martinique ;  that  deponent  had 
laid  his  complaints  against  that  superior  before  General  Wale, 
goyernor  of  Martinique,  to  whom  he  refers  for  aU  particulars ; 
that  on  returning  to  England  he  came  back  to  LuUworth  monas- 
tery in  July,  1814,  with  the  yiew  of  receiying  deaoonship  and 
priesthood;  that  about  nine  weeks  ago  he  escaped  from  that 
convent,  having  in  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1815  made 


APPiiioix.  215^ 

aoquaintance  with  a  neighbouring  gentleman  (Colonel  Wood* 
forae),  who  provided  him  with  clothes  for  makins  such  escape ; 
that  he  had  since,  from  conviction  of  the  errors  of  the  Church  of 
Borne,  made  a  public  recantation  of  that  faith  in  Blandford 
church ;  that,  about  three  months  ago,  an  Irishman  from  Carriek, 
called  Gregory,  having  succeeded  in  escaping  from  the  convent^ 
was  brought  back,  was  degraded,  doselj  confined,  and  barbie 
rouslj  treated,  and  beaten;  that  Protestant  children  were 
received  in  the  monastery,  and  educated  in  the  Boman  Catholio 
faith ;  that,  in  returns  of  persons  liable  to  serve  in  the  militia,  the 
lay  brothers  are  described  as  clergy  to  evade  the  ballot.  Depo* 
nent  believes  that  Thomas  Weld,  Esq.,  is  ignorant  of  the  forcible 
detention  of  persons  in  the  monastery,  and  of  the  other  abuses 
therein." 

This  affidavit  was  forwarded,  on  the  said  18th  of  March,  1816, 
to  Lord  Sidmouth,  Secretary  of  the  Home  Department. 

On  6th  April,  1816,  Mr.  Becket,  the  Under-Secretary  of  that 
Department,  requested  of  the  magistrates  further  information 
respecting  the  monastery.  Their  answer,  dated  Dorchester, 
10th  April,  1816,  was  signed  by 

Jamxs  Fbamptoit,     ^ 
WiLLiAJH  Pitt,  Ct?^ii;i«« 

William  Clavell,   r-^^*™«i 

HSKBT   SeTMOUB,  &  ) 

Bbt.  William  Ekglaitd,  archdeacon  of  Dorset. 

It  sets  forth,  that  they  know  tu4  whether  Gregory  be  still  con- 
fined ;  that  ten  members,  they  believe,  had  left  the  house  since 
Power's  deposition  was  taken ;  that  General  Wale's  letter  to  the 
bishop  of  Bristol  confirms  Power's  statement  of  Lestrange's 
conduct ;  that  it  is  very  true,  much  difficulty  does  exist  in  pro- 
curing the  returns  of  the  members  liable  to  serve  in  the  militia ; 
that  a  monk,  called  Dosith^e  had,  according  to  Power's  informa- 
tion, been  subjected  to  very  cruel  treatment;  that,  notwithstanding 
the  return  of  peace,  the  monastery  wore  everv  appearance  of  a 
permanent  establishment ;  and  that  they  firmly  believe  it  would 
give  the  greatest  satisfaction  if  the  Society  could  be  dissolved. 

On  26th  April  Lord  Sidmouth  sent  to  the  said  Mr.  Weld  the 
deposition  of  Power,  and  the  complaint  of  the  magistrates,  and 
observed  that  the  monastery  had  undergone  a  complete  chanse 
from  its  orifipoial  institution,  and  was  viewed  now  as  a  refuge  tor 
fugitives ;  that  he  hoped  Mr.  Weld  would  take  such  measures  as 
would  prevent  the  interference  of  Government. 

In  replv,  Mr.  Weld  thanked  his  lordship  for  his  communica- 
tion, and  lamented  that  the  -magistrates  had  thought  proper  to 
conceal  from  him  the  charges  against  the  establishment.  He 
expressed  his  perfect  conviction  of  the  innocence  of  its  members, 
and  signified  the  anxious  wish  of  the  superior,  Pere  Antoine,  t 


216  APPBNDIX. 

be  allowed  the  opportimitj  of  justifyinff  himself,  and  of  being 
confironted  with  his  accosen.  Mr.  Well  concluded  with  jno- 
fessing  his  readiness  to  assist  Gh>Teniment  in  making  erery 
inquiry. 

On  2nd  May  Lord  Sidmouth  signified  to  Mr.  Weld,  that  he 
should  proceed  to  adopt  such  measures  as  might  be  necessary  for 
bringing  back  the  estaDlishment  at  Lullworth  within  its  original 
limits,  both  with  respect  to  the  number  and  description  of  persona 
who  were  permitted  to  resort  to  it.  How  far  it  miffht  be  deemed 
adyisable  to  sanction  the  continuation  of  the  establishment  when 
so  limited,  might  be  matter  for  further  consideration. 

On  13th  May  Mr.  Weld  signified  to  Lord  Sidmouth,  Pere 
Antoine's  arriyiu  in  London,  and  his  anxiety  to  have  the  honour 
of  an  audience.  Mr.  Weld  proposed  that  Lord  Clifibrd  (who  had 
been  particularly  intimate  with  the  late  Thomas  Weld,. Esq.,  from 
the  foundation  of  the  monastery)  might  be  allowed  to  be  present. 

On  17th  May  the  audience  took  place,  and  proved  tolerably 
satisfactory.  It  appeared  that  no  active  measures  would  l>e 
directed  against  tie  establishment;  and  that  an  opportunity 
would  be  afforded  of  clearing  up  its  credit.  Still  nothing  conclu- 
sive was  settled. 

A  few  days  after  the  interview  of  the  17th,  Lord  Clifford 
waited  on  Lord  Sidmouth,  who  stated  that,  all  circumstances 
taken  inte  consideration,  he  deemed  it  unnecessary  to  enter 
further  inte  the  business ;  but  that  he  wished  the  superior  would 
not  increase  the  present  number  of  his  community,  and  would 
embrace  the  first  opportunity  to  remove  elsewhere. 

On  12th  June,  1816,  the  superior  addressed  the  following  note 
to  Lord  Sidmouth : — 

*^  MiLOBD, — Je  m'engage,  aussit^t  que  P^tat  de  la  France  et 
nos  propres  affaires  permittoront,  k  y  transporter  notre  ^tablisse- 
ment  et  toute  notre  colonie ;  et  jusqu'  k  cette  ^poque,  je  promote 


de  ne  pas  augmenter  le  nombre  des  habitans  de  notre  mabon." 

This  note  was  delivered  to  his  lordship  by  the  bishop  of  TJseSy 
who  received  for  answer,  that  the  declaration  of  I'Abb^  Saulnier'a 
intentions  had  given  him  great  satisfaction. 

N.B.  Mr.  Joseph  Steines,  surgeon,  of  Wareham,  in  his  letter 
to  the  abbot  on  9th  May,  1816,  expressly  declares  that  Brother 
Gregory  laboured  under  violent  mental  derangement,  and  that  in 
consequence,  he  (Mr.  Staines)  had  recommended  confinement; 
that  he  had  not  the  smallest  doubt  of  the  propriefy  with  which 
that  restraint  was  exercised  ^  from  the  decorum  and  good  order 
which  is  always  kept  in  your  esteblishment,  which,  from  my 
frequent  visits,  1  have  had  many  opportunities  of  witnessing,  and 
which  I  shall  always  be  ready  to  attest  in  any  mode  that  shall  be 
proposed." 

That  Dosith^e  was  a  perfect  madman,  is  evident  from  the  letter 
he  wrote  to  llr.  Hyde,  the  rector  of  Wareham,  and  a  magistrate 
of  Dorset.    It  bore  date  29th  May,  1815. 


APPBNBIZ.  217 

The  yeneimble  abbot,  in  a  letter  to  tbe  said  Lord  Clifford, 
dated  Lullworth,  6th  June,  1816,  after  stating  that  calumny  had 
obliged  him  to  visit  London,  and  that  his  recent  return  had 
comforted  and  tranquillized  his  dear  community,  feelingly  and 


justlj  remarks,  *'La  tranquillity  et  la  paiz  sont  les  nchesses 
d'un  religieuz.  Le  bonheur  gist  principalement  dans  rimagina* 
tion,  et  il  est  dangereux  d'inquietor  les  hommes,  qui  n'etant 
distraits  par  aucune  affiure,  s'affectent  et  se  trouolent  plus 
ais^ment  que  d'autres.  J'ai  gard6  d^  lors  un  profond  silenoe 
Bur  toutes  mes  id^es  de  transmigration."  He  then  proceeds  to 
obserye  that  he  had  been  willing,  in  conformity  to  the  wishes  of 
his  friends,  to  decline  for  a  year  or  eighteen  months  to  admit 
British  subjects  into  his  order ;  but  such  an  arrangement  could 
be  but  temporary,  as  otherwise  the  existence  of  the  convent 
would  be  endangered ;  and  that  he  had  come  to  the  decision,  aa 
soon  as  he  could  settle  the  business  of  the  premises  with 
Mr.  Weld,  of  passing  over  to  Eranoe.  **  En  oela  j*agis  par  devoir 
et  par  conscience ;  mais  nullement  par  inclination  et  par  go&t. 
J'amie  I'Angleterre ;  je  suis  fortement  attach^  i  des  Jieux,  oii 
nous  vivons  en  paix  depuis  vingt  ans,  que  nous  avons  arros^  de 
nos  sueurs,  que  nous  avons  en  quelque  sorte  cr^,  et  oii  jusqu'i 
ce  moment  nous*  avons  joui  d'une  tranquillity  profonde.  Je  ne 
me  fais  pas  illusion  sur  I'^tat  de  la  j'rance :  elle  n'a  rien  ^ui 
m'attire ;  mais  j'ai  d£p6t  pr^euz.  J'en  suis  comptable  k  Dieu 
et  k  I'Eglise :  je  dois  prendre  tons  les  moyens  en  mon  pouvoir 
pour  le  perp^tuer:  ma  negligence  et  mon  indiff($renoe  me 
rendroient  coupable."  He  adds,  if  Lord  Sidmouth  would  agree 
to  a  maximum, — if  the  community  might  be  allowed  to  consist  of 
forty,  or  even  thirty,  members  invariaDiy,  and  no  more,  he  would 
cheerfully  acquiesce  in  such  arrangement.  The  Government 
mi^ht  look  upon  the  community  as  a  society  of  agriculturists, 
and  very  reasonably ;  for  the  convent  undeniably  excelled  their 
neighbours  in  the  cultivation  of  potatoes ;  they  fed  eightjr  pigs 
during  the  winter  with  sea-weed ;  they  were  then  preoaring  to 
bum  their  collection  of  weeds  for  glass  and  soap,^  ana  by  this 
process  the  soap  they  made  was  as  good  as  the  article  manufac- 
tured at  Cherbourg,  or  at  Alicant.  Their  little  manufSustory  of 
doth  might  also  deserve  encouragement.  They  took  the  entire 
charge  of  their  own  sick  and  aged  without  any  assistance  from 
the  parish.  Nor  was  it  possible  that  the  severity  of  the  rule 
could  add  to  the  number  of  convento.  In  the  whole  of  Catholic 
France  before  the  Bevolution,  there  was  but  one  house  of  La 
Tr^pe,  BO  that  from  multiplication  the  British  Government  had 
no  cause  for  alarm. 

This  highly-gifted  religious,  Anne  Nicholas  Charles  Sadnier, 
was  bom,  on  20th  August,  1764,  at  Joigny  in  Champagne,  of  a 
very  respecteble  £&milv.  His  father  was  the  principal  magistrate 
there.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  was  a  licentiate  in  law,  and 
D.D.  at  Paris.    He  joined  the  Trappisto  at  LuUworth,  with  Fere 


218  APPBNDIX. 

Ealemon,  in  June,  1795.  Chosen  the  fourth  prior  of  St.  Susan's, 
Pope  Pius  YII.  raised  him  to  the  dignity  of  abbot  in  1818,  and> 
month  of  May;  and  in  August  following,  as  he  informed  me 
himself,  he  was  blest  as  such  bj  Bishop  Poynter  in  London. 
This  accomplished  scholar  and  gentleman,  considerate  superior, 
and  solid  religious,  died,  uniyers^j  lamented,  at  Meilleraye,  near 
Nantes,  on  6th  January,  1889,  SBt.  seyentj^-four. 

1  cannot  do  better  than  transcribe  hu  letter  to  his  English 
subjects,  written  12th  November,  1881,  after  their  wanton  expul- 
sion from  Meilleraye. 

"  Mes  Bixir-AiMBS  EsxBXs  XT  EmTANS,— Jc  partage  avec  bien 
de  la  tendresse  votre  affliction  et  vos  souffrances:  je  Toudrais 
qu'il  fiit  en  mon  pouToir  de  m'offrir  pour  souffrir  &  yotre  place ; 
mais  prenez  courage :  souyenez-yous  de  ce  ^ue  dit  rEvangiie  que 
nous  lisions  bier,  a  la  f6te  de  tous  las  Saints  de  notre  Ordre : 
ELeureux  ceux  qui  souffrent  persecution  pour  la  justice ;  car  le 
Boyaume  des  Cieux  leur  appartient.  Je  remercie  Dieu  du  fond  de 
mon  coBur  de  la  fortitude  et  du  courage  ayec  lesquels  yous 
supportez  cette  injuste  et  s^v^re  ^preuve;  mais  continuez  de 
mettre  en  Lui  toute  yotre  confiance.  II  est  bien  ^lorieux  pour 
yous  de  porter  maintenant  Tillustre,  Thonorable  titre  de  Uon- 
fesseurs  ue  la  Foi:  mais  rendez-yous  dignes  d*un  nom  aussi 
grand,  par  yotre  enti^re  soumission  k  la  sainte  yolont^  de  Dieu. 
B^nissez  ceux  qui  yous  pers^cutent,  loin  de  les  maudire ;  rappelez- 
yous  que  tout  ce  qui  est  passager  est  l^ger,  et  que  les  tribiuations 
de  cette  yie  n'ont  aucune  proportion  ayec  la  gloire  qui  yous  est 
pr6paree.  Je  ne  sais,  si  je  serai  assez  heureux  pour  yous  yoir 
encore,  i>our  vous  serrer  dans  mes  bras  sur  cette  terre  d'affliction ; 
mais  j*ai  la  ferme  confiance  en  Dieu,  que  par  les  m^rites  et  le 
sang  sacr^  de  notre  Dirin  Maitre  et  !Riedempteur  notre  Seigneur 
J^sus-Christ,  par  la  protection  de  notre  bonne  et  tendre  Mere 
la  glorieuse  Yierge  Marie,  et  sous  la  tutelle  de  tous  les  Anges  et 
de  tous  les  Saints,  bientdt  nous  nous  trouyerons  tous  r^unis  dans 
cet  6temel  S^jour,  dans  lequel  nous  aimerons,  louerons,  et  adorerons 
Dieu  pendant  toute  r^temit^. 

**  C  est  dans  ces  dispositions,  mes  chers  et  bien-aim^s  Fr^s  et 
Enfans,  ^u'ayec  un  cceur  d^chir^,  et  la  plus  tendre  affection,  en 
priant  Dieu  de  yous  b6nir,  je  yais  yous  donner  ma  plus  sincere  et 
plus  paternelle  benediction. 

"  Au  nom  du  Pere,  et  du  Pils,  et  du  Saint-Esprit.  Votre  Pftre, 
Frere,  et  Ami. 

"  F.  AwTOiyx,  Abbe  de  Meilleraye, 
' "  Superieur-Gen6ral." 

By  a  letter  receiyed  from  F.  A.  Hawkins,  dated  Stapehill, 
23ra  October,  1865,  J  learn,  that  this  excellent  abbot,  P.  Antoine, 
after  witnessing  the  dispersion  of  more  than  150  of  his  brethren 
in  1831,  was  permitted  to  retain  from  25  to  80  with  him; 
and  that  as  the  times  grew  more  settled,  the  scattered  sheep 
rejoined  their  pastor  to  the  number  of  60  before  his  death — that 


APPBRDIX.  219' 

presently  the  co]ximimit7  at  Meilleraye  oonsiBts  of  about  180 
fervent  members,  after  havine  s^t  put  4  or  5  colonies — ^that  in 
the  monastery  of  Aqua  Bdla,  in  Eranoe,  there  are  now  230 
monks,  and  that  in  another  eonyent  there  are  220  nuns!" 
Blessed  be  Gk>d  for  thus  bafiEUng  the  malice  of  man.  ^Sicut 
tenebra»  ejus,  ita  et  lumen  ejus  "  (Pe.  188). 


No.  vni. 

Alluded  to  in  foge  198. 

The  following  address,  signed  by  160  members  of  the  congrega* 
tion  at  Febrooke,  was  presented,  27th  September,  1885,  to  F.James 
BrownbiU: — 

<'  To  the  Bey.  James  Brownbill,  S.  J. 

^  We,  the  undersigned  members  of  your  congregation,  on  the 
ere  of  your  quitting  us  to  return  to  the  cottage  of  Stonyhurst,  bes^ 
respectfully  to  express  to  you  our  heartfelt  ree^ret  at  this  painfiu 
separation.  How  can  we  out  be  overwhelmed  with  affliction,  at 
losing  a  pastor  endeared  to  us  during  a  residence  of  nearly  five 
years,  by  such  parental  vigilance  and  solicitude,  who,  in  the  days 
of  sickness  and  tribulation,  has  proved  himself  to  be  our  kindest 
visitor,  friend,  and  counsellor  P  We  could  never  forgive  ourselves, 
reverend  sir,  if  we  failed  to  convey  to  you  this  testimony  of  our 
gratitude,  and  if  we  did  not  assure  you  that  we  must  ever  take  a 
special  interest  in  your  health  and  happiness.  Accept  our  humble 
but  constant  and  fervent  petitions  to  tiie  throne  of  grace  for  your 
temporal  and  eternal  welfare ;  and  deim  occasionally  to  remember' 
at  tne  altar  your  now  sorrowful  and  ever-attached  children  in 
Jesus  Christ. 


220  APPENDIX 


NOTE&  AND  QUERIES. 

I.  Who  were  John  and  Jane  Walker,  whose  anna  appear  on  a 
chalice  at  Ghidiock  Chapel  P  On  the  hexagon  foot  1  ohserved 
engraved  the  cmcifixion,  the  Y irgin  Marj  with  twelve  stars  encir> 
cling  her  head,  and  her  feet  resting  on  the  crescent — Ora  pro 
animabus  Johannis  Walker  et  Johanne  nxoris  ejus. 

n.  My  readers  are  aware  that  Dr.  John  Carroll  was  the  first 
bishop  appointed  for  the  United  States  of  America ;  that  the 
Bull  of  Pope  Pius  YL  so  appointing  him  Bishop  of  Baltimore, 
bears  date  6th  I^ovember,  1789 ;  and  that  the  consecration  of  his 
lordship  was  performed  in  Lullworth  Chapel  by  Bishop  Walmesley 
on  15th  August,  1700.  But  it  is  not  generally  known  that  Charles, 
the  late  Lord  Clifford,  furnished  the  design  of  the  official  seal 
for  the  new  prelate.  The  form  was  circular.  Beneath  the  hat 
and  tassells,  in  the  centre  of  a  circle,  stood  the  Virgin  Mother  and 
the  Divine  Infant ;  over  her  head  are  thirteen  stars,  emblematical 
of  the  thirteen  United  States ;  at  her  feet  are  the  keys  in  saltier. 
The  legend  of  the  obverse  was  JOHAinrxs  xpisoopub  baxti- 
HOBiBKSis.  In  the  reverse  appears  the  Blessed  Virgin  as  before, 
with  the  legend  kx  nuxLiNQUAB  kob,  noHunB  nxus  kostsb. 

.    Q.  Is  the  seal,  mutatii  muUmdia^  still  in  use  at  Baltimore  P 

N.B.  At  the  svnod  holden  at  Baltimore,  9th  May,  1852  (mrabUe 
dietu)^  6  archbishops,  25  bishops,  and  about  60  priests  attended ! 
Deo  Oratias*  In  1856  the  Catholic  population  of  the  United 
States  is  nearly  two  millions  and  a  half,  with  7  archbishops  and 
85  bishops^  1,760  priests,  about  2,000  churches^  24  colleges, 
87  seminaries,  and  180  French  schools. 

m.  When  at  Lullworth  in  1810 1  saw  a  picture  of  a  deceased 
person  laid  out  in  the  Franciscan  habit,  with  this  inscription ; — 

*'Vera  effigies  lUustrissimi  Domini  Edwardi  Widdrington, 
Equitis  et  Baronetti,  BDtatis  su®  57.  Obiit  anno  1671,  18 
Junii." 

Q.  1.  Was  he  the  third  son  of  William,  the  second  Lord 
Widdrington  P  And  if  so,  2.  Was  he  undo  to  Hon.  Peregrine 
Widdrington,  who  married  Mary,  Duchess  of  Norfolk,  relict  of 
Thomas,  eighth  Duke  of  Norfolk.  Ob.  1747.  8.  When  was  this 
Edward  Widdrington  created  a  baronet  ? 

rV.  Was  Dr.  Bonaventure  Gifford  bom  at  Wolverhampton^  as 
Dodd  asserts  (vol.  iii.  Church  History,  p.  469)  P  Secondly,  Was  his 
surname  Biihop,  as  Hals,  the  contemporary  Cornish  historian, 
contends  P  His  report  of  the  doctor,  under  the  parish  qf  St 
Matogan^  in  Pydre^  is  circumstantial  and  curious  i-^ 

**  One  BishoVf  of  this  parish,  in  his  youth,  after  his  school  edu- 
cation at  Betallock,  in  St.  Columb  Major,  in  the  Latin  and  Greek 


AFPBNDIX.  221 

tongaes  under  Mr.  John  Coode,  that  ftmoos  schoolmaster,  was 
taken  by  the  cost  and  care  of  Sir  John  Arundell,  of  Lanheme, 
from  thence,  and  placed  by  him  in  Douay  College,  in  Flanders, 
where  he  took  orders  as  a  Catholic  Boman  nri^  and  became 
house-ehaplam  to  the  said  Sir  John  Arundell,  Knt. ;  and  from 
thence  visited  and  confirmed  the  Boman  Catholics  in  those  parts 
for  many  year  by  thepretended  name  of  Mr,  Qjffbrd.  He  died  at 
Hammersmith,  near  London,  20th  March,  1783,  aged  ninety-nine 
years,  and  ordered  his  body  to  be  opened,  and  his  heart  to  be 
taken  out  and  sent  to  Douay  aforesaid,  and  kept  in  spirits,  and 
his  body  to  be  buried  in  St.  Fancras  Church,  London.  (London 
Oazeite,  28rd  March,  1783.)  He  was  made  D.D.  by  the  college 
aforesaid,  and  consecrated  Bishop  of  ■  ■  '  ■  in  the  banqueting- 
house  at  Whitehall,  in  the  last  year  of  King  James  11.*'  So  & 
Hals. 

Certainly,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Madura,  a  city  on  the 
north  of  Africa^  by  the  papal  nuncio  Ferdinand  D'Adda  on  22nd 
April,  1688,  and  was  appointed  first  Y .A.  of  the  Midhmd  District. 
On  the  death  of  Bishop  John  Leybum  he  was  transferred  to 
London.  His  epitaph  in  St.  Fancras  shows  he  was  bom  in  1644, 
and  that  he  diea  12th  March,  1783,  consequently  but  eighty-nine 
years  old. 

His  junior  brother  Andrew,  D.D.,  had  died  14th  September, 
1714,  having  refused  the  Bishopric  of  Csssarea,  and  the  govern- 
ment of  this  Western  District,  void  by  the  resignation  of  Bishop 
Philip  Ellis,  promoted  to  Segni  by  Pope  Clement  XL 


PART    II. 


BIOGEAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE  CLERGY 


IN  THX   OOUITTIEB  OT 


CORNWALL,  DEVONSHIEE,  D0ESET8HIRE,  SOMERSETSHIRE, 
WILTSHIRE,  AND  GLOUCESTERSHIRE, 


FROM  THB 


PERIOD  OF  THE  BEFOBMATION  UNTIL  THE  PRESENT  YEAR  1866. 


Quidnam  dalcius,  quain  majorum  reoenaere  gratiam,  ut  eomm 
acta  cognoscas,  a  quibus  aoceperis  et  rndimenta  fidei  et  incitamenta 
bene  vivendi? — (Gul.  Malmesb,  de  Grestis  Pontif.  Angl.) 


PREAMBLE. 


In  looking  over  this  catalogue,  the  reader  may  be  sur- 
prised at  the  vast  proportion  of  members  of  religious  orders 
that  have  been  employed  in  cultivating  the  western  part  of 
this  English  vineyard  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour;  and 
if  his  heart  be  truly  inflamed  with  the  zeal  of  God's  house, 
— ^if  he  seek  not  his  own,  but  the  things  that  are  of  Christ, — 
he  will  rejoice  at  the  loyal  co-operation  of  the  secular  with 
the  regular  clergy  in  promoting  the  salvation  of  immortal 
souls  purchased  by  the  blood  of  a  common  Redeemer.  Had 
not  these  efficient  men  considered  themselves  as  officers 
engaged  in  the  same  honourable  service,  with  a  community 
of  feelings  and  interests,  though  arrayed  in  different 
uniforms,  and  marshalled  under  distinct  regimental  colours, 
— ^if  they  had  not  scorned  that  party  spirit  which  induced 
the  Corinthian  converts  to  cry  out,  **  I  am  of  Paul,  and  I  of 
ApoUos,  and  I  of  Cephas,^'  (1  Cor.  i.),  *'  as  if  Christ  was 
divided,*'  says  the  Apostle, — had  they  yielded  to  such  per- 
sonal jealousies  and  such  pitiful  feelings,  the  sacred  fire 
of  religion  would  long  since  have  been  extinguished 
amongst  us. 

At  the  express  recommendation  of  Dr.  Allen,  the  founder 
of  Douay  College,  that  sanctuary  of  learning  and  nursery 
of  martyrdom,  the  Jesuits  were  sent  to  the  aid  of  the 
secular  clergy  in  1580 ;  the  children  of  St.  Benedict  added 
their  reinforcement  about  the  end  of  Queen  Elizabeth's 
reign,  and  the  sons  of  SS.  Dominic  and  Francis  eagerly 
volunteered  into  the  same  distinguished  service.  All  these 
men  of  Ood  were  intimately  persuaded  that  the  King  of 
kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  in  His  sovereign  independence, 
stands  in  no  need  of  any  of  His  creatures ;  but  that  if  He 
condescend  to  employ  any  of  them  to  perform  His  work, — 
if  He  engage  them  as  ministering  spirits  to  do  His  will, — 
they  shouJd  feel  it  as  a  gratuitous  honour,  and  exclaim  with 
the  blessed  Virgin,  ''Fecit  mihi  magna  qui  potens  est, — 
exaltavit  humiles.''  For  it  is  God  alone  who  gives  the 
increase,  who  bestows  the  victory.    It  is  He  who  crowns  His 

Q 


226  PREAMBLE. 

own  gifts;  and  provided  He  be  honoured  and  glorified,  we 
ought  to  feel  indifferent  as  to  the  instruments  whom  He 
selects  for  His  purposes.  Hence  F.  Bothaan,  the  late  General 
of  the  Jesuits,  in  his  encyclical  letter  to  his  subjects,  dated 
1st  January,  1847,  properly  condemns  those  as  guilty  of 
great  indiscretion  and  folly  who  imagine  that  Jesuits  were 
necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  Chod's  Church,  which  is 
built  on  the  adamantine  rock  of  ages.  '^Procul  absit  k 
nobis  hujusmodi  cogitatio,  probe  scientibus,  Deo,  cum  setemis 
promissis  Ecclesiae  institutio  innixa  est,  nullum  hominem, 
neque  uUam  hominum  congregationem,  esse  necessariam: 
qui,  si  cujus  oper&  uti  dignatur  in  Ecclesise  suae  cau8&  promo- 
Tend&,  vel  tuend&,  insigne  beneiicium  prsebet,  non  meritum 
rependit:  qui  potest  etiam  de  lapidibus  suscitare  filios 
Abrahse ;  cui  proinde  supplicandum  est :  Conserva  me, 
Domine'^  (Psalm  xv.),  "  quoniam  speravi  inte.  Dixi  Domino, 
Deus  mens  es  tu,  quoniam  bonorum  meorum  non  eges.'' 
It  would  be  absurd,  however,  to  deny  that  occasionally,  in 
times  happily  gone  by,  the  enemy  of  human  tranquillity  and 
prosperity  did  succeed  in  sowing  the  tares  of  jealousy  and 
factious  disunion  in  some  portion  of  the  English  vineyard. 
But  this  is  only  a  proof  of  the  infirmity  of  poor  human 
nature,  that  priests  are  not  angels,  but  men,  liable  to  forget 
the  divine  counsel,  "Be  ye  perfect,  even  as  your  heavenly 
Father  is  perfect.'' — (Matt.  v.  4S.)  Therefore  we  are  not  to 
be  surprised  that  such  events  have  transpired ;  but  we  are  to 
lament  them,  to  cast  a  veil  over  them,  to  pray  and  to  watch 
against  their  recurrence.  Let  it  be  our  study  to  show  that 
we  consider  ourselves  as  the  citizens  of  the  saints  and  the 
domestics  of  God;  let  us  seek  to  rejoice  Heaven  by  our 
union  of  heart  and  soul,  by  being  lovers  of  harmony,  and 
delighting  in  our  respective  vocations.  And  let  every  priest 
implore  God  to  say  to  us  all,  in  His  mercy, "  Reddam  populis 
labium  electum :  ut  invocent  onuies  in  nomine  Domini,  et 
serviant  ei  humero  uno.'' — (Sophonias  iii.  9.) 


I 


Jiffgrartital  fist  of  i\t  Ckrgj* 


A. 

Adams^  John,  bom  at  Martin's  Town^  Dorset^  from  a 
Calvinist  miaister  became  a  feirent  Catholic^  and,  eager  to  be 
an  instmment  in  the  conversion  of  erring  souls,  crossed  over 
to  Rheims  to  qualify  himself  for  the  priesthood.  He 
returned  home  a  missionary  in  1581.  Apprehended,  he  was 
sent  into  banishment  four  years  later;  but  his  zeal  for  his 
neighbours'  salvation  induced  him  to  re-appear  in  the  vine« 
yard,  where  he  soon  fell  into  the  persecutors'  hands  :  and  on 
8th  October,  1586,  he  expiated,  by  a  glorious  death  at 
Tyburn,  that  crime  of  high  treason  affixed  by  English  law  to 
the  character  and  functions  of  the  priest  according  to  the 
order  of  Melchizedec.  Father  Warford,  S.J.,  who  had 
known  him,  relates  that  Hampshire  was  the  chief  arena  of 
his  apostolic  labours ;  that  he  was  of  the  middle  size,  appa- 
rently about  forty  years  of  age,  had  a  darkish  beard,  cheeif ul 
countenance,  black  eyes,  ready  speech,  and  was  ^'ingenii 
simplicis  et  admodum  pii :  laboriosus  imprimis." 

Adamson,  Vincent  Robert,  O.S.D.,  a  native  of  Lan- 
cashire, who  consecrated  himself  early  to  bis  Maker  in 
the  Order  of  St.  Dominic.  On  29th  September,  1825,  he 
reached  Harpury  Court  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brittain, 
the  director  of  the  Dominicanesses  there.  But  his  career  of 
usefulness  was  destined  to  be  short  indeed;  for  God  was 
pleased  to  take  him  to  Himself  on  10th  May,  1831,  in  the 
thirty-second  year  of  his  age. 

Agar,  William  Seth,  bom  near  York  on  Christmas-day, 
1815,  was  ordained  at  Prior-park,  and  succeeded  the  Rev. 
William  Joseph  Yaughan  as  incumbent  of  Lyme,  at  mid- 
summer, 1845.  Unquestionably  he  added  much  to  the 
improvement  of  its  church.  On  15th  July,  1849,  he 
presented  twenty-three  for  confirmation.  We  have  from  his 
pen  ''A  CathoUc  Catechism,  methodically  arranged  for  the 
Use  of  the  Uninstructed,''  which  is  a  translation  from  the 

Q  2 


228  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLERGY. 

Italian  of  Dr.  Rosmini  Serbati.  Mr.  Agar's  state  of  health 
at  length  dictated  the  expediency  of  a  relaxation  from  the 
labours  of  his  mission.  After  an  excursion  amongst  his 
friends,  he  supplied  at  Salisbury  for  a  time;  but  feeling 
much  recovered,  he  resumed  his  pastoral  duties  at  Lyme. 
However,  the  place  again  disagreeing  with  him,  the  Bishop 
transferred  him  to  Spetisbury,  where  he  is  rendering  valuable 
service ;  and  on  16th  September,  1856,  he  was  installed  a 
canon  of  the  Plymouth  chapter  in  the  room  of  Canon  Tilbury, 
deceased. 

AiNswoRTH,  Ralph,  O.S.B. — This  exemplary  missioner 
served  Bath  for  two  years  as  assistant  priest,  and  for  twenty 
years  as  chief  pastor.  Finding  the  chapel  in  Corn  Street  much 
too  contracted  for  his  increasing  flock,  he  boldly  purchased 
the  old  theatre  and  some  adjoining  premises,  and  succeeded, 
by  the  3rd  December,  1809,  in  converting  that  theatre  into 
the  present  spacious  chapel  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist. 
From  its  wall  I  copied  the  following  epitaph : — 

In  a  vault 

Beneath  this  chanel. 

In  the  hope  of  a  glorious  Kesurrection, 

Repose  the  mortal  remains 

of 

The  Rev.  Ralph  Ainsworth, 

Who  for  the  long  period  of  20  years 

Filled  the  important  office 

Of  chief  Pastor  of  this  Congregation, 

Respected  and  heloved, 

And  to  whose  memory  this  monument  is  erected 

By  the  gratitude  of  his  numerous  friends. 

Obiit  5  Februarii,  1814,  etatis  50. 

Allam  (Ambrose),  William,  O.S.B. — ^All  that  I  can 
collect  of  this  religious  is,  that  he  succeeded  P.  John 
Panting,  S.J.,  at  Bonham,  in  1783 ;  and  that  at  the  end  of 
six  years  he  removed  to  Coventry,  where  he  concluded  his 
pious  course  on  5th  September,  1812,  deeply  regretted. 

Allen,  Francis. — That  he  was  a  secular  priest,  and  was 
stationed  in  Cornwall  during  the  reign  of  King  Charles  I., 
is  certain.  Dodd,  in  his  Church  History  (vol  iii.  p.  149), 
has  recorded  one  of  his  letters  from  that  county;  but  in 
vain  I  look  for  other  particulars. 

Anderdon,  William  Henry. — ^While  vicar  of  St.  Mar- 
garet's,  Leicester,  he  embraced  the  Catholic  faith.  I  under- 
stand that  he  has  recently  been  appointed  chaplain  to 
Viscount  Campden,  eldest  son  and  heir  of  the  earl  of  Grains- 
borough,  at  Campden  House,  co.  Gloucester. 


.BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OP   THE   CLERGY.  229 

Anderson^  William,  S.J.,  bom  12tli  June,  1689; 
admitted  into  the  order  7th  June,  1721,  and  distinguished 
himself  by  his  mathematical  and  astronomical  science.  One 
who  knew  him  assured  me  that  he  resided  for  some  time  at 
Leighland,  the  seat  of  the  Rowes,  in  Somersetshire.  But 
he  was  subsequently  transferred  into  Lincolnshire,  where  he 
died  superior  of  his  brethren  of  the  College  of  St.  Hugh,  at 
Eingerby,  the  seat  of  the  Youngs,  near  Market  Basen,  on 
25th  August,  1764. 

Angelus,  a  Sto.  Francisco,  O.S.P.,  alias  Eichard 
Mason,  whom  Dodd  by  mistake  divides  into  two  distinct 
persons. — (Church  History,  vol.  iii.  pp.  100,  113.)  That  he 
was  an  Englishman  is  certain, — probably  a  Yorkshireman ; 
yet  Harris,  in  his  "  Writers  of  Ireland,''  claims  him  for  a 
native  of  that  country.  In  the  "  Rambler ''  of  July,  1850, 
I  have  given  a  catalogue  of  the  writings  of  this  learned 
scholar.  For  a  time,  it  appears  that  he  was  chaplain  at 
Wardour.  Worn  out  with  labours  in  the  service  of  religion, 
he  obtained  permission  at  length  to  quit  England,  and  retire 
to  St.  Bonaventure's  Convent  at  Douay,  1 1th  October,  1675, 
'^ut  sibi  et  Deo  ibidem  vacet;''  and  there  he  slept  in  the 
Lord  on  30th  December,  1678,  act,  seventy-eight,  prof, 
forty-eight,  sac.  forty-four. 

Apricr,  Ildefonsus,  O.S.B.,  probably  a  native  of  Somer- 
setshire, and  perhaps  a  descendant  of  William  Aprice, 
gentleman,  who  is  mentioned,  in  Rishton^s  Diary  of  the 
Tower,  to  have  been  thrown  into  the  Pit  on  27th  August, 
1584,  for  twenty-three  days,  and  again  on  24th  September 
dropped  into  that  horrible  dungeon  for  forty-eight  days.  I 
think  this  religious  father,  like  his  brother  Joseph,  was  pro- 
fessed at  St.  Laurence's  Convent,  Dieulwart.  Subsequently, 
he  was  one  of  the  monks  appointed  to  serve  St.  James's 
chapel,  London,  and  at  the  Revolution  had  to  share  in  all 
the  reverses  of  his  brethren.  But  he  died  quietly  in  London 
on  18th  March,  1712. 

Aprice,  Joseph,  O.S.B.,  brother  of  the  above.  This 
chaplain  of  King  James  11.  grew  into  such  favour,  that  F. 
Weldon,*  in  his  "  Chronologiod  Notes/'  a  work  to  which  I  am 

*  F.  Ralph  (Bede)  Weldon,  of  the  ancient  family  of  Weldon,  of 
Swanscomhe,  near  Gravesend,  was  the  seventeenth  child  of  his  parents 
Colonel  George  Weldon  and  Lucy  (Necton)  his  wife ;  Ralph  was  bom 
in  London  12th  April,  1674,  and  was  christened  at  tlie  Savoy.  He  lost 
his  father  on  30th  March,  1679 ;  but  his  mother  survived  until  26th 
April,  1702.  Converted  to  the  Catholic  faith  by  that  zealous  monk 
F.  Joseph  Johnston,  he  made  his  abjuration  at  St.  James's,  on  12ih 


230  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEROT. 

fiingularly  indebted^  informs  us  that  "  his  Majesty  would  have 
him  in  his  service  wherever  he  went^  and  that  he  died  in  the 
fifty-third  year  of  his  af^e  at  St.  Edmund's  House^  Paris^  on 
25th  July,*  1703,  in  the  very  chamber  where  James  II.  used 
to  lie,  when  he  honoured  that  house  with  his  pious  retreats.'' 
Q.  Was  not  his  friend,  Mr.  Charles  Penruddock,  who  died  at 
Paris  in  March,  1679,  set.  twenty-eight,  and  in  whose  vault 
at  St.  Edmund's  F.  Aprioe  was  buried,  son  of  the  Colonel 
John  Penruddock,  beheaded  at  Exeter  by  order  of  Oliver 
Cromwell,  May,  1665,  for  proclaiming  Charles  II.  King  of 
England  ? 

In  Hayward's  Vindication  of  Charles  Fox's  history  may 
be  seen  (No.  8,  Appendix)  a  letter  of  this  F.  Aprice,  on  the 
death  of  King  Charles  II.  and  the  accession  of  King  James  II. 

Atlward  (Dominic),  John,  O.S.D.,  bom  at  Leeds  4th 
April,  1813.  In  early  life,  viz.  15th  January,  1834,  he  was 
professed  among  the  Dominicans  at  Hinckley,  where  he  was 
ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Walsh,  10th  March,  1838.  After 
succeeding  his  former  Master  of  Novices,  F.  Procter,  in  the 
ofSce  of  provincial,  he  was  in  1854  appointed  his  successor 
also  in  the  priorship  of  the  monastery  at  Woodchester,  which 
he  most  worthily  governs. 

B. 

Bacon,  Gregory,  O.S.B.,  ob.  apud  Stoke,  co.  Gloucester, 
4th  April,  1663. 

Baoos,  Charles  Michael,  Right  Rev. — In  the  "  Weekly 
and  Monthly  Orthodox  Journal,"  of  June,  1849,  I  published 
a  full  account  of  this  amiable  and  learned  prelate.  He  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Charles  Baggs,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Eleanor 
Kyan,  and  was  bom  in  the  county  of  Meath,  on  21st  May, 
1806.  His  father  was  a  Protestant  barrister,  and  destined 
his  sou  also  for  the  legal  profession;  but  a  sad  reverse  of 
fortune,  and  his  sudden  death  in  1820,  induced  his  pious 
mother  to  withdraw  her  child  firom  the  Protestant  school 

October,  1687.  On  17th  December,  1690,  he  took  the  Benedictine 
habit  at  Douay,  and  was  professed  l«3th  January,  1692.  Of  his  congre- 
gntion  and  of  religion  he  aeserves  every  praise  for  Iiis  two  folio  volumes 
of  **  Chronological  Memoirs,"  all  written  in  his  own  bold  band,  now  at 
Ampleforth.  At  the  beginning  of  volume  ii.  I  read,  "These  two  tomes 
cost  me  from  the  evening  or  dusk  of  Trinity  Sunday,  about  the  middle 
of  June,  that  half  month,  July,  August,  September,  October,  to  the 
7th  of  November,  1707,  on  which  day  I  finished  them.  Glory  be  to  the 
eternal  wisdom  of  God.*'  Perhaps  he  made  the  abridgment  of  that  work, 
now  at  Downside,  continued  till  1713 ;  for  he  died  23rd  November  of 
that  year. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THB   CLBBOY.  281 

in  June  that  year^  and  place  him  first  at  Sedgley-park 
Academy  for  a  twelvemonth^  and  then  transfer  him  to 
St.  Edmnnd's  College.  In  the  spring  of  1825  his  superiors, 
charmed  with  his  docility,  industry,  and  talent,  sent  him  to 
the  English  College  at  Bome,  where  in  due  time  he  was  pro- 
moted to  priesthood ;  and  so  rapidly  did  he  rise  in  the  esti- 
mation of  all  around  him,  that  he  was  appointed  vice- 
president  of  the  college,  and  iinallv  president,  when  Dr. 
Wiseman  was  nominated  to  the  see  oi  Melipotamus,  to  which 
he  was  consecrated  14th  June^  1840.  Pope  Gregory  XYI., 
an  exceUent  ludge  of  merit,  treated  Dr.  Baggs  with  marked 
distinction ;  he  made  him  his  honorary  chamberlain,  giving 
him  the  privilege  of  introducing  to  an  audience  all  the  Britisn 
gentry ;  and  he  executed  this  office  with  admirable  tact  and 
courtesy,  so  as  to  win  golden  opinions. 

When  the  news  reached  the  Eternal  City  that  Dr.  Baines, 
Bishop  of  Siga,  was  no  more,  the  eyes  of  the  public  were 
directed  to  our  English  president  as  the  fit  person  to  succeed 
to  the  charge  of  this  Western  District.  His  Holiness  coin- 
cided in  this  opinion,  and  Dr.  Baggs  was  consecrated  to  it  by 
the  title  of  Bishop  of  Pella,  in  St.  Gregory's  Church  at  Rome, 
on  28th  January,  1844,  by  Cardinal  Fransoni,  assisted  by 
Dr.  Brown,  then  Bishop  of  Tloa,  now  of  Liverpool,  and  Dr. 
Collier,  Bishop  of  Port  Louis,  in  the  Mauritius.  I  have 
heard  Bishop  Baggs  repeat,  that  on  taking  leave  of  that 
illustrious  Pope,  his  Holiness  enjoined  him  above  all  things 
to  inculcate  union  and  charity  amongst  his  flock.  Circum- 
stances prevented  the  bishop  from  taking  possession  of  his 
diocese  before  Thursday,  30th  May,  1844.  His  arrival  at 
Prior-park  was  welcomed  by  the  clergy  and  laity.  On  1st 
June  he  held  an  ordination,  when  three  were  promoted  to  the 
priesthood,  and  four  were  made  deacons.  The  summer  was 
spent  in  visiting  his  extensive  diocese.  On  2nd  September 
he  opened  at  Prior-park  a  general  spiritual  retreat  for  his 
clergy.  On  2nd  October  he  divided  the  diocese  into  four 
deaneries,  to  enable  his  clergy  to  meet  together  for  theological 
discussions ;  but  whilst,  like  his  patron,  St.  Charles  Borromeo, 
pastoral  solicitude  was  rendering  him  glorious,  it  was  truly 
painful  to  us  all  to  witness  that  our  variable  climate  was 
impairing  and  destroying  his  delicate  constitution.  We  had 
hoped,  almost  against  hope,  that  he  might  recover  his  pristine 
elasticity ;  but  alas !  he  rapidly  succumbed  under  prostration 
of  strength,  and  gently  expired  at  Prior-park  on  16th  October, 
1845.  On  the  23rd  his  precious  remains  were  laid  by  the  side 
of  his  immediate  predecessor.  Bishop  Baines,  in  the  new  church 
commenced  at  the  college. 


232  BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF   THE   CLBROT. 

His  coflSn  was  thus  inscribed : — 

* 

Carol  us  Michael  Baggs, 

EpiscopuB  Pellensis,  Y.  A.  D.  O. 

Obiit  XVII.  Kalendas  Novembrisy 

Anno  Domine  mdcccxlt., 

Episcopatus  sui  aecando. 

Vixit  Annos  xxxix.  Menses  v. 

Cujus  anime  propitietur  Deus. 

In  consequence  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  coU^e  at 
Prior-park,  his  remains  have  been  recently  removed  to  a 
vault  in  Midford  Chapel,  bj  the  kindness  of  the  ConoUy 
family. 

A  high  encomium  of  this  estimable  prelate  appeared  in  the 
columns  of  the  Morning  Post,  of  November  3,  1845. 

Dr.  Baggs  published — 1.  At  Rome,  in  1836,  a  Letter  ad- 
dressed to  the  Kev.  R.  Burgess,  B.D.,  the  Protestant  chaplain 
in  that  city. 

2.  A  Discourse  on  the  Supremacy  of  the  Roman  Pontiffs, 
delivered  in  the  Church  of  Gesu  e  Maria,  in  the  Corso,  Rome, 
on  Sunday,  February  7th,  1836,  and  dedicated  to  Cardinal 
Weld.  This  discourse  was  translated  into  Italian,  by  Augusto 
Garofolini,  and  afterwards  printed  at  the  Tipograiia  delle  Belle 
Arti :  at  Rome  that  year  Dr.  Baggs  translated,  himself,  into 
Italian,  his  letter  to  Mr.  Burgess,  which  was  printed  also 
in  1836. 

3.  The  Papal  Chapel,  described  and  illustrated  from  History 
and  Antiquity,  1839,  and  dedicated  to  Cardinal  Acton. 

4.  The  Ceremonies  of  Holy  Week,  at  the  Vatican,  and 
St.  John  Lateran's ;  with  an  account  of  the  Armenian  Mass 
at  Rome,  on  Holy  Saturday,  and  the  Ceremonies  of  the 
Holy  Week,  at  Jerusalem  :  Rome,  1889.  Dedicated  to  the 
present  Hugh  C.  Lord  Clifford. 

5.  The  Pontifical  Mass,  sung  at  St.  Peter's  Church  on 
Easter  Sunday,  on  the  Festival  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  and 
Christmas-day;  with  a  Dissertation  on  Ecclesiastical  Vest- 
ments: Rome,  1840.  Dedicated  to  Cardinal  James  Gius- 
tiniani,  Bishop  of  Albano,  and  Protector  of  the  English 
College. 

6.  Funeral  Oration,  delivered  at  the  solemn  obsequies  of 
the  Lady  Guendaline  Talbot,  Princess  Borghese,  in  St.  Charles' 
Church,  in  the  Corso,  on  23rd  December,  1841.  On  this 
mournful  occasion.  Dr.  Baines  sung  the  High  Mass. 

Two  Dissertations  of  Dr.  Baggs  were  printed  and  published 
separately. 


BIOGKAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY.  233 

1.  Dissertazione  buI  sistema  Teologico  degli  Anglicani 
detti  Puseyisti.     Svo.^  85  pp. 

It  was  read  in  the  Aobdemia  di  Religione  Cattolica,  at 
Rome,  30th  June,  1842 ;  and  was  published  in  the  ^' Aimali 
delle  Scienze  Religiose.^'     Vol.  xt.  No.  43. 

2.  Dissertazione  suUo  Stato  Odierno  della  Chiesa  Anglicana. 
8yo.,  pp.  28.  Published  in  1843  in  the  same  Annali,  &c. 
Vol.  xvii.  No.  49, 

In  the  words  of  Cowper  I  may  add : — 

^  Peace  to  the  mem'ry  of  a  man  of  worth, 
A  man  of  letters  and  of  manners  too. 
Of  manners  sweet,  as  virtue  always  wears.*' 

Baines  (Auoustin)  Petek,  Bight  Rev.,  bom  at  Pear-tree 
Farm,  within  Kirkley  township,  near  Liverpool,  on  25th 
January,  1787.  In  company  of  John,  Edward,  and  Vincent 
Glover,  three  brothers,  he  left  England  to  study  for  the 
Church  in  the  English  Benedictine  Abbey,  of  Lambspring, 
where  they  arrived  on  7th  November,  1798.  Within  four  years 
later,  the  good  monks  were  compelled  to  leave  their  beloved 
monastery,  and,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Rev.  John  Bolton, 
they  repaired  to  Ampleforth,  in  the  parish  of  Oswaldkirk, 
near  York.  Here  Lady  Ann  Fairfax,*  of  Gilling  Castle,  had 
founded  a  mission  as  early  as  1780  for  the  Benedictines. 
This  hospitable  and  considerate  monk  was  her  chaplain ;  his 
house  was  commodious ;  he  gave  them  every  encouragement 
to  commence  a  college  at  once,  and  he  ended  his  days  amongst 
them  on  20th  December,  1805.  Heaven  blessed  the  under- 
taking ;  the  pious  Peter  Baines  pursued  his  studies  with  in- 
defatigable assiduity;  at  the  canonical  age  he  consecrated 
himself  to  God  in  the  order  of  St.  Benedict,  on  8th  June, 
1804,  taking  St.  Augustine  for  his  patron.  The  talented 
youth  was  soon  employed  to  teach,  and  he  laudibly  exerted 
his  abilities  in  improving  and  enlarging  the  system  of  educa- 
tion in  this  rising  establishment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  the 
chapter  judged  him  to  be  the  best  qualified  to  succeed  to  the 
important  mission  of  Bath,  void  by  the  retirement  of  his 
confrere,  the  Rev.  James  Calderbank.  He  arrived  in  that 
city  in  July,  1817;  and  it  is  true  to  say,  that  the  mission 
under  his  auspices  assumed  a  renovated  appearance  and 
splendour.  Bishop  CoUingridge,  sadly  disappointed  in  not 
securing  for  his  coadjutor  the  Rev.  Charles  McDonnell,  O.S.F., 
who  had  actually  been  nominated  Bishop  of  Sonopolis  by  his 
Bull,  dated  2Gth  January,  1816,  but  could  not  be  prevaUed 

*  Tills  great  benefactress  to  religion  died  on  2nd  May,  1811. 


334  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE  CLERGY. 

upon  to  accept  the  proffered  dignity^  charmed  with  the  pulpit 
eloquence  of  this  gifted  missioner,  and  the  unprecedented 
progress  of  religion  in  Bath^  now  selected  Dr.  Baines  for  his 
associate  in  the  episcopal  office^  and  as  such  he  was  consecrated 
to  the  see  of  Siga  by  Archbishop  Murray^  in  Townshend- 
atreet  Chapel^  Dublin^  on  1st  May^  1823.  The  friends  of  our 
holy  faith  haUed  this  promotion,  for  the  reverend  doctor  was 
looked  up  to  as  possessing  a  soul  superior  to  pitiful  jealousy 
and  party  prejudice;  and  in  his  letter  to  me,  dated  20th 
August,  1823,  from  No.  4,  Belvidere,  Weymouth,  where  he 
accepted  for  a  time  the  charge  of  the  congregation,  his  lord- 
ship thus  expressed  himself: — ''  Stonyhurst  has  not  a  more 
sincere  well-wisher,  or  truer  friend,  than  mvself.  As  far  as 
my  little  means  extend,  I  shall  be  happy  at  all  times  to  render 
it  service.  I  am  a  decided  and  open  enemy  to  all  party  dis- 
tinctions ;  and  I  hope  I  am  perfectly  free  myself  from  what 
I  hate  in  others — party  prejudice.'^  This  was  language 
worthy  of  a  Catholic  bishop  !  And  is  not  party  spirit,  which 
chills  the  heart,  like  an  ague,  checking  the  circulation  of 
vital  charity  ? 

For  the  benefit  of  his  health  Dr.  Baines  was  recommended 
to  make  a  tour  on  the  Continent,  and  he  made  a  lengthened 
residence  at  Rome.  By  his  Holiness  Leo  XII.  he  was  ap- 
poiated  a  domestic  chaplain  shortly  before  that  PontifiPs 
death,  which  lamentable  event  occurred  on  10th  February, 
1829.  Within  two  months  later  he  received  the  unexpected 
intelligence  that  Bishop  CoUingridge  was  no  more.  As 
soon  as  he  could  arrange  his  affairs,  he  hastened  back  to  this 
vacant  diocese,  and  obtained  permission  from  Pope  Pius  YIII. 
to  become  secularized,  after  an  attachment  to  the  Benedictine 
order  for  the  quarter  of  a  century. 

In  the  December  of  the  same  year  (1829)  he  concluded 
the  purchase  of  the  magnificent  mansion  of  Prior-park,*  near 
Bath,  with  its  annexed  leasehold  estate  in  Lyncombe  and 
Wydecombe  parishes,  of  171  acres,  and  a  freehold  estate  of 
twenty-seven  acres.  To  the  splendid  mansion,  which  he  ap- 
propriated for  the  episcopal  residence,  he  added  two  handsome 
wings,  St.  Peter's,  to  serve  for  a  lay  college,  and  St.  Paul's, 

*  Erected  by  Ralph  Allen,  Esq.,  who,  from  being  the  son  of  an  inn- 
keeper in  a  village  on  the  road  side,  called  St  Blazey  Highway,  Corn- 
wall, raised  himself,  by  energy  of  mind  and  indefatigable  perseverance, 
to  become  the  originator  and  affluent  farmer  of  tlie  Cross  Posta^. 
Pope,  Swift^  Arbuthnot,  Gav,  Thompson,  &c.,  partook  of  his  hospitalities 
at  Prior-park.  Ob.  29th  tfune,  1764,  sot.  seventy-one,  and  was  buried 
at  Cloverton.  I  have  seen  some  of  his  portraits  by  Hudson.  Davies 
Gilbert,  in  his  "Cornwall,"  vol.  i.  p.  67,  doubts  whether  Fielding's 
"  Al worthy  "  was  really  meant  to  pourtray  Mr.  Allen. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEBOT.  835 

to  be  an  ecclesiastical  seminary.  Such  was  the  progress  of 
the  works,  that  in  Jnly^  1880,  Prior-park  was  opened  for  the 
reception  of  students,  though  the  foundation  of  the  college 
takes  date  from  1st  May  that  year.  Some  of  his  lordship's 
jEriends  and  admirers,  considering  his  lordship's  present  ways 
and  means,  and  calculating  on  his  probable  resources  and 
prospects,  were  fearful  that  the  enterprise  was  too  venture- 
some, and  that  it  might  involve  and  swallow  up  the  funds  of 
the  missions.  Amongst  others  who  could  be  mentioned,  that 
cautions  and  discreet  nobleman,  Charles,  the  late  Lord  Clifford^ 
in  his  letter  to  me  bearing  date  Mansfield-street, 'London, 
5th  November,  1830,  remarked,  "  I  have  my  doubts  of  the 
propriety  of  endeavouring  to  support  a  seminary  of  the  mag- 
nitude of  Prior-park."  It  was  even  prognosticated  by  some 
eminent  divines  that  it  must  perish.  The  outlay  was  truly 
terrific;  the  demands  continually  increasing,  vehemently 
pressing,  and  creating  feverish  anxiety ;  and  in  the  midst  of 
this  misery,  to  the  regret  of  all  lovers  of  architectural  beauty, 
the  centre  of  this  imposing  pile  of  buildings  accidentally  took 
fire  on  the  evening  of  80th  May,  1836.  This  was  a  distress- 
ing trial  to  our  zealous  prelate,  yet  it  served  to  rouse  his 
energy  to  redoubled  exertions.  He  no  longer  confined  his 
appeal  for  succour  "  to  the  narrow  limits  of  the  Catholic  body** 
but  be  extended  it  "to  the  Protestant  public  ;**  and  he  opmly 
proclaimed  in  that  appeal, "  independently  of  the  late  cakuniiy, 
the  institution  of  Prior -park  could  not  possibly  support  itsejf 
without  the  public  aid*' 

Over-exertion  and  solicitude  undermined  a  constitution 
naturally  delicate  and  inflammatory;  and  I  was  not  sur- 
prised to  hear  of  his  sudden  dissolution.  It  was  an  event 
which  he  himself  had  anticipated ;  indeed,  he  had  experienced 
a  slight  paralytic  afiection  early  in  March,  1842.  But  at 
length  he  nobly  fell  at  the  post  of  honour,  within  twelve 
hours  after  opening,  with  a  discourse,  St.  Mary's  new  church 
on  Bristol  Quay.  Early  on  the  following  morning  he  was 
found  a  corpse  in  his  bed  at  Prior-park,  6th  July,  1843.  At 
his  obsequies  on  13th,  Bishops  Briggs,  GrifSths,  Morris,  and 
Oillis  assisted,  with  about  forty  priests.  The  brass  plate  on 
his  coffin  bore  the  following  inscription  :* — 

* 

Petrus  Angustinas  BuineSy 

Episcopus  Sigensi^  V.  A.  D.  O. 

Obiit  Anno  Domini  hdcccxliii. 

Prid.  Non.  Julii.    Vixit  An.  lvii.  Dies  xii. 


*  Probably  this  and  Dr.  Baggs'  inscription  came  from  the  same  pen. 
As  the  division  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Districts  had  already  taken 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY. 

Confessedly,  Dr.  Baines  was  possessed  of  considerable 
tact,  winning  address,  and  easy  eloquence ;  but  perhaps  was 
inferior  to  his  predecessors  of  the  Western  Yicariat  in  accu- 
racy of  mind  and  gravity  of  judgment,  especially  in  financial 
matters.  Constitutional  infirmity  may  have  contributed  to 
render  him  more  excitable  and  irresolute.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
his  name  will  ever  rank  amongst  the  luminaries  of  our 
English  Catholic  Church. 

In  the  "Weekly  and  Monthly  Orthodox  Journal''  of 
June,  1849, 1  gave  a  list  of  his  numerous  publications;  and 
hope  to  see  a  copious  life  of  the  prelate  compiled  "  by  a  bold 
and  impartial  hand.'' 

Baines,  James,  nephew  to  the  last-mentioned  prelate, 
educated  and  ordained  at  Prior-park.  For  a  short  time  this 
promising  ecclesiastic  was  stationed  at  Poole,  but  was 
recalled  to  the  college  to  fill  the  of&ce  of  procurator.  Here 
his  course  of  usefulness  was  arrested  by  a  fatal  fever  on 
30th  August,  1844,  at.  thirty-two. 

Baker  (Augustine),  David,  O.S.B. — ''Clarum  ac  vene- 
rabile  nomen,"  bom  at  Abergavenny  in  December,  1575. 
In  the  "  Bambler  "  of  March,  1851, 1  gave  a  brief  memoir  of 
this  profound  scholar.  He  died  of  the  plague  in  London, 
19th  August,  l&ll,  set.  sixty-six,  and  was  buried  in  St. 
Andrew's,  Holbom.  He  is  connected  with  our  west  by 
having  resided  as  chaplain  with  Philip  Fursdon,  of  Fursdon, 
in  Cadbury  parish,  Devon,  Esq.  (See  Dodd's  History, 
vol.  iii.  p.  116.)  Bishop  Challoner  also  mentions  him  as 
connected  with  Devon,  in  his  interesting  memoir  of  that 
Benedictine  martyr,  P.  Philip  Powell. 

Baldwin,  William,  S.J.,  of  Cornwall,  and  schoolfellow  of 
F.  Cornelius,  of  whom  hereafter.  After  five  years  spent  at 
Oxford  University,  he  proceeded  to  Bheims,  and  thence  to 
the  English  College  at  Rome ;  and  after  his  promotion  to 
priesthood,  enrolled  himself  amongst  the  Jesuits  on  26th 
February,  1595,  aged  twenty-six.  Twelve  years  later  he  was 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  a  professed  father.  For  the  life  of 
this  blameless  religious,  I  refer  the  reader  to  the  eighth  book 
of  F.  More's  "  History  of  the  English  Province  of  the  S.J." 
Elected  the  fifth  rector,  but  first  English  rector  of  St.  Omers' 

place  three  years  before,  OC.  to  0.  might  have  been  preferable,  to 
avoid  ambiguity.  In  the  above.  Menses  V.  is  omitted  in  the  age  of 
Bishop  Baines.  The  remains  of  this  bishop  and  his  reverend  nephew 
Jnmes  Baines  have  recently  been  translated,  on  17th  June,  1866,  to  the 
monks'  cemetery  at  Downside. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY.  287 

College^  he  died  in  office  26tli  September,  1632>  with  the 
highest  reputation  for  wisdom  and  piety. 

Balltman  (Gregory),  John,  O.S.B.,  bom  in  Devon, 
26th  October,  1734;  clothed  at  Lambspring  2l8t  April, 
1753,  and  professed  5th  May,  1754.  Subsequently  he  filled 
the  office  of  prior  of  that  noble  abbey,  and  there  died, 
13th  September,  1811. 

Ballyman,  Thomas,  O.S.B.,  younger  brother  of  the  above, 
bom  in  1737;  reached  Lambspring,  26th  July,  1751;  clothed 
Slst  October,  1755;  and  professed  7th  November,  1756, 
After  serving  Salford  for  some  time,  he  retired  to  Bath, 
whe  he  died  6th  August,  1795. 

Bampton,  George,  S.J.,  was  bom  in  London  26th  July, 
1816.  Educated  for  the  medical  profession,  and  having 
passed  his  examination,  he  began  to  practise  as  a  surgeon  in 
Plymouth ;  but  after  his  conversion  to  the  Catholic  faith, 
was  privileged  with  the  grace  of  vocation  to  the  ecclesiastical 
state.  His  spiritual  father,  the  Rev.  Henry  Biley,  the 
incumbent  of  Plymouth,  conducted  him,  in  May,  1840,  to 
Prior-park,  where  eventually  Bishop  Baines  ordained  him 
sub-deacon  18th  December,  1841 ;  deacon  2nd  October, 
1842;  and  seven  days  later  promoted  him  to  priest- 
hood. On  21st  of  the  same  month  and  year,  he  made 
his  missionary  d4but  at  Plymouth,  as  assistant  to  his 
dear  friend,  P.  Riley.  His  inaugural  discourse  on  "the 
Love  of  God,'*  delivered  in  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  Stone- 
house,  on  Sunday,  23rd  October,  1842,  merited  and  obtained 
publication.  Full  of  zeal,  talent,  and  tender  piety,  and 
desirous  of  greater  perfection,  his  heart  yeamed  for  the  reli- 
gious state ;  and  having  at  length  received  permission  from 
the  Holy  See,  to  the  deep  regret  of  his  congregation,  he 
quitted  Plymouth  on  23rd  January,  1845,  to  become  a 
humble  novice  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  At  the  end  of  his 
probation  he  was  sent  to  render  missionary  service  at  Rich- 
mond, in  Yorkshire;  but  when  Bishop  UUathome  directed 
the  provincial,  F.  Lythgoe,  to  resume  possession  of  Trenchard- 
Street  Chapel  by  Sunday,  31st  October,  1847,  F.  Bampton 
was  ordered  to  proceed  thither  for  the  purpose.  He  filled 
this  incumbency  until  6th  December,  1849,  when  his 
increasing  reputation  as  a  preacher  induced  his  superiors  to 
call  him  up  to  the  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  in 
London.    At  present  he  is  at  Stonyhurst. 

Bannister,  William,  O.S.B. — Of  this  early  missionary 
of  Bath  I  regret  to  say,  that  I  can  learn  only  that  he  died 
there,  after  some  years'  s^vice,  on  16th  May,  1726. 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CUBAOT. 

Barbbr,  Joseph  (Stephen)^  O.S.B: — ^This  good  religious 
was  assistant  priest  at  Spetisbury  for  a  time ;  but  finished 
his  course  at  Salisbury  on  20th  September^  1847^  in  his 
sixty-third  year.     Bel.  forty-six^  sac.  thirty-eight. 

Barber^  Luke  (Bernard),  D.D.^  O.8.B.,  younger  brother 
of  Joseph,  and  bom  at  Macclesfield,  took  the  habit  at  Acton 
Bumell  26th  April,  1807.  Seven  years  later,  the  commu- 
nity removed  to  Downside;  and  when  the  prior,  F.  Iiawson, 
resigned  his  office  on  23rd  July,  1818,  the  solid  virtues  and 
valuable  services  of  Father  Barber  recommended  him  as  the 
fittest  successor  to  that  pre-eminence.  Under  his  auspices, 
during  the  twelve  years  of  his  government,  and  amidst  much 
vexatious  trials,  the  establishment  of  St.  Gregory's  increased 
in  numbers  and  reputation.  On  10th  July,  1823,  he  opened 
the  beautiful  collegiate  church,  which  he  justly  considered 
should  be  the  principal  feature  in  every  well-regulated  com- 
munity. On  the  death  of  F.  Lawson  aforesaid,  at  Salford 
Convent,  on  23rd  April,  1830,  F.  Barber's  experience  and 
services  were  required  for  the  spiritual  direction  of  that 
Benedictine  convent  and  school.  And  again,  twelve  years 
later,  he  was  elected  the  president  of  all  his  English  bre- 
thren. For  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life,  this  most  amiable 
friend  endured  a  species  of  martyrdom  firom  angina  pectoris. 
Some  professional  men  treated  it  as  a  stomach  affection,  but 
the  event  demonstrated  that  it  was  disease  of  the  heart 
progressing  unto  ossification.  As  he  did  not  appear  in  time 
for  the  nuns'  Mass  on  the  29th  of  December,  1850,  F.  Spain, 
the  assistant  chaplain,  was  sent  for,  to  officiate,  in  order 
to  allow  the  venerable  president  a  longer  repo.se;  but  not 
being  seen  later,  his  chamber  was  entered,  when  he  was  found 
a  corpse!  His  appearance  in  bed  proved  that  he  died  in 
sleep,  without  a  struggle.  In  this  kind  and  amiable  father 
I  lost  a  very  dear  friend;  but  in  my  breast  will  ever  be 
embalmed  the  memory  of  his  solid  virtues,  and  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  warmest  attachment. 

He  was  sixty-one  years  of  age,  and  in  the  thirty-sixth  of 
his  priesthood,*  when  the  Prince  of  Pastors  called  him  to  be 
crowned.  ''Bonae  vitae  numerus  dierum;  bonum  autem 
nomen  permanebit  in  aevum." — (Eccl.  xli.  16.) 

Barlow,  Lewis,  of  Gloucestershire.  He  was  the  first 
missionary  sent  from  Douay, — viz.,  in  1574.  Twice  banished 
the  realm,  he  still  returned,  and  finally  died  in  England,  full 
of  days  and  merits,  in  1610. 

BarneSj  Laurence,  O.S.B.,  was  stationed  at  Bonham  for 
some  time.     Obiit  31st  May,  1803, 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLEBOY.  289 

Babnes,  Stephen,  I  believe  of  Wilts,  was  educated  in  the 
English  College  at  Rome ;  in  the  sequel  he  was  appointed 
director  of  the  English  Canonesses,  O.S.A.,  then  at  Louvain 
(now  at  Spetisbury),  and  died  in  that  office  Ist  January, 
1653,  8Bt.  seventy-seven.  Another  F.  Stephen  Barnes  is 
mentioned  by  Bishop  Challoner''^  under  E.  White,  M. 

Babnes,  William,  son  of  Helen  and  Orace  Barnes,  of 
Tisbury,  Wilts,  born  on  8th  November,  1764,  left  Rome  for 
the  English  mission  in  1793.  After  supplying  in  a  variety 
of  places,  he  died  at  Madeley,  in  Shropshire,  28th  April,  184(5. 

Babbet,  Maubus,  O.S.B. — He  certainly  left  the  Leighland 
mission  in  1767.     He  died  3rd  December,  1794. 

Babbow,  Joseph,  S.J.,  born  at  Westby,  co.  Lancashire, 
27th  February,  1740.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  offered 
himself  to  Qod  in  the  Society ;  for  a  short  period  was  the 
incumbent  at  Tusmore,  then  was  transferred  to  Exeter,  and 
thence  to  Arlington  Court,  near  Barnstaple.  On  1st  July, 
1786,  he  reached  St.  Helen's  in  his  native  county,  and  opened 
the  convenient  chapel  at  Lowe  House  on  1st  September, 
1793.  Here  he  consummated  his  earthly  course  on  5th 
January,  1813. 

Bastabd,  Bobebt. — This  worthy  secular  priest,  I  appre- 
hend, was  a  native  of  Devon.  Called  up  from  his  prison,  he 
was  sentenced  to  perpetual  banishment  in  1606;  after  which 
I  lose  sight  of  him. 

Bauoouin,  Gboboe,  bom  at  Monkton,  near  Taunton; 
educated  partly  at  Douay,  and  partly  at  Valladolid.  He  came 
to  the  mission  in  1775,  and  was  appointed  by  Bishop 
Walmesley  to  look  after  the  dispersed  faithful  in  the  vicinity 
of  Plymouth.  This  duty  he  continued  to  discharge  until  the 
riots  of  1780,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  place.  After  a 
short  time  he  took  up  his  quarters  at  Taunton,  where  his 
placid  virtues  gained  him  general  esteem.  There  he  ended 
his  labours  on  14th  May,  1818,  aged  sixty-nine,  comforted 
with  the  bright  prospect  of  religion  around  him. 

**  Sunk  to  the  grave  with  unperceived  decay, 
Whilst  resignation  gently  sIofNBd  the  way, 
And  all  his  prospecte  hrightening  at  the  last, 
His  heaven  commencing  ere  the  world  he  past." 

Beaumont,  John,  O.  S.  F.,  eldest  son  of  Joseph  and 
Hannah  {olim  Harding)  Beaumont,  of  Stone-Easton,  co. 
Somerset.     In  early  life  he  was  clothed  in  the  Franciscan 

*  See  the  ^  Memoirs,"  10th  Decemher,  1591. 


240v  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF  THE   CLERGY. 

convehf  of  St.  BonaTenture^  at  Douay.  I  find  by  the  Chapter- 
books  that  he  was  appointed  Giuurdian  of  the  Custody  of 
Bristol^  on  8rd  May,  1734;  for  six  years^  at  leasts  before  the 
arrival  of  Rev.  Charles  Needham  in  the  winter  of  1745,  he 
was  Chaplain  at  Tor  Abbey.  After  the  death  of  his  father, 
his  conduct  in  the  disposal  of  the  family  patrimony,  in  de« 
fiance  of  the  remonstrances  of  his  Jesuit  brother,  William, 
and  his  throwing  off  the  yoke  of  all  submission  and  respect 
to  his  religious  superiors,  became  so  extraordinary^  to  say  the 
least  of  it,  that  he  was  sentenced  to  be  removed  from  all 
missionary  duty,  and  placed  under  surveillance  at  Douay 
Convent  (7th  Sept.  1764.  Act  Book,  p.  403).  There  this 
jubilarian  father  concluded  his  eccentric  course  in  the  year 
1774. 

Beaumont,  John,  S.J.,  bom  at  Stone*Easton,  in  June, 
1787.  I  remember  his  arrival  at  Stonyhurst,  with  his  younger 
brother  Henry,  in  September,  1800.  John  was  admitted  a 
novice  at  Hodder,  seven  years  later,  and  was  promoted  to 
priesthood  by  Bishop  Milner  on  18th  December,  1812.  After 
serving  Alnwick  for  eighteen  years,  he  was  transferred  to 
Stockeld-park,  where  he  continued  for  eight  months,  and 
thence  was  stationed,  26th  November,  1832,  at  South  Hilli 
Chorley,  where  he  still  is  (December,  1855). 

Beaumont,  Joseph,  S.J.,  youngest  brother  of  the  Francis- 
can, bom  in  June,  1702 ;  admitted  into  the  order,  7th  Sep- 
tember, 1723;  and  professed  of  the  four  vows,  2nd  February, 
1741.  For  many  years  he  resided  with  Mrs.Winefred  Gorsuch 
Eccleston,  at  Cowley  Hill,  St.  Helen's,  co.  Lancaster.  There 
he  died,  13th  February,  1773,  and  was  buried  at  Windleshaw. 

Beaumont,  William,  S.J.,  the  middle  brother,  between 
the  Franciscan  John  and  the  last-mentioned  Joseph;  bom 
29th  January,  1697;  joined  the  Society  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one;  and  was  professed  2nd  February,  1737.  After  serving 
Bonham  and  LuUworth,  he  retired  to  Stone-Easton,  where 
he  died  on  15th  October,  1764. 

Beeston,  Henry,  S.J.,  born  at  Carlogas,  near  Lan- 
heme,  on  19th  June,  1797.  After  distinguishing  himself  as 
a  classical  scholar  at  Stonyhurst,  he  entered  the  novitiate, 
7th  September,  1816.  At  Rome  he  finished  his  higher  course 
of  studies,  and  there  was  promoted  to  priesthood  on  11th  July, 
1824.  Several  missions  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  exemplary 
zeal;  but,  to  the  dismay  of  his  attached  congregation  at 
Worcester,  and  the  distress  of  an  increased  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintance,  he  was  suddenly  taken  ofi*  by  gout  in  the 
stomach  on  the  night  of  12th  December,  1846. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEBOT.  241 

BsBSTON,  James  Philip,  S.J.,  veri  Bourgeois,  bom  in 
French  Flanders,  5th  January,  1738,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  enlisted  under  the  banner  of  St.  Ignatius.  In  1779, 
I  meet  him  as  chaplain  at  Cherry  Orchard,  afterwards 
at  Courtfield.  He  is  connected  witn  the  west  by  having 
resided  at  Canford  for  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  as  director 
to  the  Theresian  nuns,  with  the  charge  of  that  mission.  His 
sudden  death  occurred  19th  May,  1811. 

Begin,  Nicholas. — ^The  best  account  I  can  render  of  this 
respected  French  abb^,  whose  society  I  enjoyed  in  May,  1810, 
is  extracted  from  the  '^  Salisbury  Journal ''  of  20th  March, 
1826.  "On  Thursday,  16th  of  March,  died  the  Rev. 
Nicholas  Begin,  who  was  upwards  of  thirty  years  pastor  of 
the  Catholic  congregation  of  this  city.  His  unaffected  piety, 
goodness  of  heart,  and  cheerful  disposition,  procured  him  the 
esteem  of  many  valuable  firiends  while  living,  and  his  loss 
will  be  sincerely  lamented,  not  only  by  his  friends,  but  by 
many  of  the  poor,  to  whom  he  was  a  liberal  benefetctor.'' 

Bennet,  Placid,  O.S.B. — This  good  religious  is  well 
remembered  at  Lanheme  for  his  zeal  and  piety ;  but  he  died 
at  Liverpool,  1st  March,  1795. 

Bennet,  Thomas,  S.J. — ^This  humble  and  indefatigable 
pastor  had  long  been  going  about  doing  good.  Habited  like 
a  peasant  (as  we  learn  from  the  annual  letters  of  1647),  as 
he  was  proceeding  on  the  road  between  Bridgewater  and 
Poole,  he  was  overtaken  by  some  of  the  Somersetshire  cavalry 
in  the  service  of  the  Parliament.  He  was  exposed  to  much 
buffoonery  and  insult,  and  it  required  all  his  address  and 
shrewdness  to  extricate  himself  from  their  clutches.  Had 
they  suspected  him  to  be  a  priest,  they  would  probably  have 
killed  him  outright.  The  good  old  man  ended  his  days 
quietly  at  Ghent,  10th  December,  1664. 

Bbntlet,  Edwabb,  S.  J.,  a  Londoner,  joined  the  order  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  in  due  time  was  numbered 
amongst  its  professed  fathers.  For  some  time  he  filled  the 
ofSce  of  Penitentiary  at  Rome ;  but  the  climate  and  the  con- 
finement incidental  to  his  function  impairing  his  constitution, 
he  was  ordered  to  England.  The  last  thirty-one  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  the  service  of  the  mission,  especially  within 
the  residence  of  St.  Stanislaus,  which  induded  Devon  and 
Cornwall.     He  died  on  19th  May,  1656,  set.  sixty-eight. 

Berbiman,  Alban,  O.S.B.,  a  native  of  Somersetshire.  All 
that  I  can  glean  of  him  is,  that  he  died  in  a  good  old  age  on 
18th  January,  1715. 


242  BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF   THB   CLBROT, 

Blair,  Jambs,  S.J.,  whom  I  find  described  as  "a  man  of 
singular  prudence  and  8anctit7/^  was  certainly  exercising  the 
ministry  in  the  diocese  of  Exeter  in  1746;  but  how  long 
before  or  after  I  cannot  discover.  Recalled  to  Liege,  to  be 
the  Professor  of  Scripture,  he  died  there  on  28th  May,  1759, 
St.  sixty-six,  soc.  forty*six. 

BiRusALL  (Augustine),  John,  O.S.B. — ^This  gifted  religious 
was  born  at  Liverpool,  27th  June,  1775,  and  studied  first 
amongst  the  Dominicans;  but  in  October,  1795,  entered 
himself  amongst  the  Benedictines  at  Lambspring.  Admitted 
to  his  profession  on  6th  November,  1796,  he  was  promoted  to 
priesthood  at  Hildesheim  on  20th  May,  1801.  Five  years 
later  he  was  sent  to  assist  the  incumbent  at  Bath ;  but  after 
rendering  valuable  service  for  three  years  and  a  half,  he  was 
encouraged  to  undertake  a  new  mission  at  Cheltenham,  late 
in  1809,  and  there  succeeded  in  opening  its  first  pubUc  chapel 
on  3rd  June,  1810.*  Twenty  years  later  this  energetic 
father  commenced  another  mission  at  Broadway.  Few  men 
indeed  have  deserved  better  of  his  order  and  of  religion 
generally.  Appointed  president  of  his  brethren  in  1826,  his 
was  a  painful  pre-eminence;  but  by  his  consummate  tact 
and  decision  of  character  he  saved  Ampleforth  College,  on 
which  the  blessing  of  heaven  visibly  rests.  This  truly  good 
&ther,  after  struggling  most  meekly  with  a  tedious  and  severe 
illness,  died  at  Broadway  on  2nd  August,  1837.  A  tablet 
in  the  Cheltenham  Chapel  commemorates  his  meritorious 
services. 

Bishop. — In  a  letter  of  the  late  Richard  Rowe,  Esq.,  I 
read  that  he  was  chaplain  at  Marnhull  about  the  year  1773. 
Can  this  be  the  F.  Henry  Bishop,  O.S.F.,  who  departed  this 
life  at  Baddesley  on  19th  June,  1811,  set.  eighty-six? 

Blount  Henrt  Joseph  (Benedictine),  O.S.B.,  son  of 
Edward  Blount,  Esq.,  born  in  London  5th  June,  1821 ;  clothed 
by  Dr.  Brown,  then  Bishop-elect  of  Wales,  30th  September, 
1840,  at  Downside,  and  professed  there  11th  November,  1841 ; 
ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Hendren  22nd  September,  1849. 
After  filling  the  offices  of  Master  of  Novices,  Prdfect  of  Studies, 
and  pastor  of  the  Downside  congregation,  he  was  appointed  the 
assistant  priest  of  Cheltenham,  at  the  chapter  in  July,  1854. 

Bolton  (Anselm),  John,  O.S.B. — I  suspect  that  this  is 
the  worthy  monk  who  served  Leighland,  and  Cannington 

*  A  French  emimnt,  T Abb^  Csesar,  before  this,  **  had  said  Mass  on 
Sundays  and  holidays,  in  a  back  room  of  a  low  public  house,'*  for  the 
handful  of  Catholics  there.  At  his  death,  24th  September,  1811,  set. 
eighty,  F.  Birdsall  had  him  decently  buried  in  the  parish  ehurehyard. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF   THE   CLEROT.  243 

also^  for  a  time  previouB  to  his  becoming  chaplain  to  Lady 
Ann  Fairfax^  at  Ampleforth,  where  he  closed  his  meritorious 
life  on  20th  December^  1805. 

Bond. — ^A  pious  couple,  William  Vincent  Bond  and  Nancy 
his  wife,  settled  in  St.  Maugan's  parish,  near  ColumVs,  Corn- 
wall, have  given  many  of  their  offspring  to  God's  Church,  viz. 

1.  James  Isidore,^  the  sixth  child  but  fourth  son,  born 
4th  April,  1819;  after  studying  for  some  time  at  Douay, 
Prior-park,  and  Oscott,  he  repaired  to  the  English  College  at 
Rome,  where  he  was  ordained  priest.  After  serving  St.  Chad's 
Cathedral,  at  Birmingham,  for  some  time,  he  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  the  new  church  of  Snow-hill,  Wolverhampton. 

2.  Joseph  John  Bond,  S.  J.,  the  fourth  child  of  his  parents^ 
bom  27th  October,  1814,  left  his  home  for  Stonyhurst  Col- 
lege 27th  January,  1828.  With  his  fellow-religious  the  Bev. 
James  Ecdes,  now  the  incumbent  of  Exeter,  he  received  the 
order  of  subdeacon  in  the  chapel  of  Tronchiemes,  near  Ghent, 
on  25th  May ;  of  deacon,  in  the  cathedral  of  Ghent,  on  29th 
May ;  and  of  priest,  on  Corpus  Cbristi  day,  8rd  June,  1847, 
in  the  chapel  aforesaid,  at  the  hands  of  the  Bight  Bev.  Louis 
Jacques  Delebecque,  Bishop  of  Ghent.  F.  Bond  was  attached 
to  St.  Walbiu'ge's  Church,  Preston.  He  removed,  I  am  told, 
to  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  is  now  attached  to  the  cathedral 
church  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  Liverpool. 

8.  Bond,  William  Petse,  eldest  brother  of  the  foregoing, 
bom  1st  August,  181 1 ;  left  home  7th  January,  1824,  for  lasbon 
College,  where  he  was  ordained  priest  29th  March,  1835,  and 
celebrated  his  first  Mass  on  4th  of  April.  Swansea  was  his 
first  mission,  whence  he  removed  to  MamhuU,  in  1839.  In 
October,  1840,  he  succeeded  F.  Tilbury  at  Chidiock.  This 
talented  and  asealous  priest  quitted  29th  January,  1844^  to 
accompany  Bishop  Wilson  to  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

BoNOMi,  John. — ^This  amiable  ecclesiastic  was  bom  in  Lon- 
don June  9th,  1816;  partly  educated  at  Prior-park;  ordained 
there  by  Bishop  Baines  on  Saturday  in  Whitsun-week  (May  21), 
1842.  During  the  space  of  nearly  twenty  years  he  acted  as  the 
accomplished  Master  of  Ceremonies  at  the  grand  functions  of 

*  John  Isidore  Bond,  S.J.,  the  third  son,  bom  11th  April,  ISIT, 
admitted  into  the  So>biety  7th  September,  1839,  died  at  Calcutta 
23rd  March,  1844,  before  his  promotion  to  priesthood.  His  bones  were 
brought  over,  and  interred  at  Stonyhurst,  Ist  March,  1847. 

Stephen  Bond,  the  ninth  child,  born  24th  Marcli,  1826,  as  well  as  his 
brother  Vincent,  the  eleventh  child,  bom  8th  July,  1828,  have  also  con- 
secrated themselves  to  God  in  the  Society  of  Jesus ;  and  four  of  their 
sisters  have  become  nuM. 

R  2 


244  BIOOSAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THB   CLERGY. 

Bishops  Baines,  Baggs^  Ullathome^  Hendren^  and  Bargesa,  in 
the  West.     He  is  now  servii^  the  Monmouthshire  mission. 

Booth,  Charles,  S.J.  (brother  to  James,  the  eminent 
lawyer,  father  of  the  modem  practice  of  conveyancing,  and 
whose  treatise  on  ''  Real  Actions  "  is  in  such  repute  with  the 
legal  profession),  was  the  tutor  of  Henry,  the  eighth  Lord 
Arundell.  For  several  years  before  his  death  the  venerable 
man  lived  entirely  at  Wardour,  and  there  finished  his  earthhr 
course,  at  the  age  of  ninety,  on  11th  May,  1797.  His  lord- 
ship did  honour  to  his  remains,  by  depositing  them  in  his 
own  family  vault  under  his  princely  chapel. 

BosGRAVE,  James,  S.J.,  was  bom  at  Goodmanston,  Dorset, 
"  of  a  very  worshipful  house  and  parentage,''  as  F.  Persons 
informs  us.  Whilst  yet  a  youth,  with  the  approval  of  his 
pious  parents,  he  quitted  England  for  Borne,  where  he  studied 
a  course  of  rhetoric  and  philosophy.  He  had  entered  the 
Society  on  17th  November,  1564,  and  was  ordained  priest  at 
Olmutz  in  1572.  During  twelve  years  Germany  and  Poland 
witnessed  with  delight  and  admiration  his  increasing  fame  as 
a  professor  of  philosophy,  of  mathematics,  of  Hebrew  and 
Greek.  Declining  health  at  Wilna  induced  his  superiors  to 
order  his  return  to  England,  in  the  hope  that  his  native  air 
might  renovate  his  constitution.  His  parents  were  still  living; 
but  he  had  hardly  reached  the  British  shores  in  the  spring  of 
1580,  when  he  was  apprehended  and  consigned  to  the  Tower 
of  London.  His  lengthened  absence  from  England  had  caused 
him  to  foi^et  his  mother  tongue.  On  14th  November,  1581, 
he  was  arraigned  at  the  Queen's  Bench,  with  F.  Edmund  Cam- 
pian  and  others,  and  on  the  20th  of  that  month  was  sentenced 
to  the  death  of  a  traitor ;  but  in  consequence  of  the  powerful 
interest  which  Stephen  (Battori),  the  learned  and  valiant  king 
of  Poland,  manifested  in  his  behalf.  Queen  Elizabeth  con- 
sented not  to  dip  her  hands  in  his  blood,  and  at  length  to 
discharge  him  from  the  Tower,  on  21st  June,  1585.  Return- 
ing to  Poland,  the  illustrious  confessor  finished  a  meritorious 
life  by  a  saintly  death,  at  Calizzi,  27th  October,  1621,  or,  ac- 
cording to  another  account,  1623.  "  Septuagenario  major." 
Q.  What  relation  was  he  to  Thomas  Bosgrave,  gentleman, 
who  was  taken  at  Chidiock  Castle,  14th  April,  1594,  and 
executed  for  his  religion,  4th  July  next  ensuing,  at  Dorchester  ? 

Boucher,  Bichabd,  S. J.,  bom  17th  August,  1696 ;  was 
admitted  into  the  Society  of  Jesus  on  7th  September,  1713. 
For  many  years  he  was  chaplain  to  the  Chichesters  at  Arling- 
ton, and  amongst  them  ended  his  ministry  on  18th  December, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THS   CLEROT.  245 

1760.    Prom  the  parish  registry  I  copied  this  entry :  ^'  1760. 
Mr.  Richard  Bourchier  was  buried  December  20th.^' 

BouRCHiSR^  William,  S.J.,  elder  brother  of  the  pre- 
ceding, bom  14th  July,  1682,  was  aggregated  to  the  Society 
in  1700.  For  several  years  he  lived  at  Aston  Hall,  in  co. 
Stafford,  a  property  then  belonging  to  the  Welds,  afterwards 
he  resided  a  Lullworth  Castle.     Ob.  28th  September,  1757. 

BouoBNOMs,  Louis,  O.S.R.,  as  he  informed  me  himself, 
was  bom  at  Liege  2nd  March,  1816 ;  was  professed  in  the 
order  of  the  Redemptorists  8th  September,  1888;  ordained 
priest  on  24th  May,  1840.  He  is  connected  with  our 
Western  District  by  having  been  the  incumbent  of  Falmouth 
from  16th  June,  1843,  to  1st  September,  1848,  when  he 
removed  to  Clapham.  From  the  pubUc  journals  I  now  learn 
that  he  is  zealously  promoting  the  cause  of  religion  in 
Ireland,  as  superior  of  his  bretluren  of  Mount  St.  Alphonsus, 
Limerick. 

Bowes,  alias  Lane,  Robert. — ^This  man  of  God  exercised 
for  a  considerable  time  the  ministry  at  Hatherop,  and 
there  composed  a  volume  of  "  Practical  Reflections,'^ — ^the 
fruits  of  solid  piety,  and  tender  unction.  Retiring  to  Bath, 
his  useM  life  was  crowned  with  a  happy  death  on  17th 
December,  1735. 

BowRiNG,  Charles  Algernon  (Alotsius),  S.J.,  fifth  and 

Emgest  son  of  Sir  John  Bowring,  Knight,  of  Exeter,  by 
wife  Maria  (Lewin),  was  bom  19th  March,  1828.  At  a 
suitable  age  he  was  sent  to  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
where  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  exemplary  assiduity 
and  proficiency.  But  whilst  applauded  by  others  for  his 
successful  exhibition  of  talents,  he  was  little  at  ease  within 
himself.  Doubts  about  his  Protestant  religious  opinions 
arose, — he  felt  dissatisfied, — he  prayed  Heaven  to  assist  him, 
— he  followed  the  guidance  of  the  Star,  which  brought  him 
to  the  Author  of  faith,  and  to  the  work  of  His  visible 
church.  Within  a  year  after  his  conversion  he  received  the 
special  grace  of  vocation  to  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and 
promises  to  become  a  leading  man  in  its  English  province. 

Bradshaw  (Anselm),  Bernard,  O.S.B.,  succeeded  Bishop 
York  as  missionary  of  Bath ;  but  died  at  Acton  Bumell  on 
9th  August,  1774.  I  think  he  wa3  of  Preston  Heballs, 
CO.  Salop,  and  that  he  was  clothed  at  Lambspring  on  28th 
March,  1723.  He  had  a  nephew,  Anselm  Bradshaw,  clothed 
there  81st  August,  1760,  who  died  at  Warrington  20th  June, 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OT  THB   CLBBOT* 

1799 ;  and  I  think  Basil  also,  clothed  there  on  24th  June, 
1762,  who  died  12th  April,  1770, 

Breoque,  de  LA. — ^This  exemplary  French  abb^,  after  the 
French  Revolution,  took  up  his  residence  at  Axminster. 
When  his  confrireB^  Messrs.  le  Blaise  and  le  Marc,  returned 
to  France,  after  the  treaty  of  Amiens,  which  was  concluded 
on  Lady-day,  1802,  he  undertook  the  pastoral  charge  of 
that  little  flock,  and  died  there,  universally  esteemed, 
8rd  February,  1819,  act.  sixty-six. 

Bbent,  Henry,  S.  J.,  an  eminent  divine  and  good  religious, 
was  employed  both  at  Stapehill  and  Wardour ;  but  for  the 
last  ten  years  of  his  life  resided  at  Irnham  Hall,  co.  Lincoln. 
His  gravestone  in  the  parish  church  is  inscribed : — 

To  the  Memory  of  the  Rev. 

Mr.  Henry  Brent,  many  years 

Chaplain  to  Lord  and  Lady  Arundelly 

Who  departed  this  life  the  9th  of 

January,  1784,  aged  69. 

R.  I.  P. 

Brett  (Gabriel),  Robert,  O.S.B.,  son  of  Sir  Alexander 
Brett^  of  Whitestaunton,  co.  Somerset,  and  nephew  of  his 
Grace  the  Most  Bev.  Dr.  William  Giffard,"^  the  founder 
and  first  prior  of  St.  Malo's  English  Benedictine  convent. 
Under  this  superior  the  pious  youth  made  such  pro- 
gress in  religious  perfection,  as  to  win  the  hearts  of  his 
brethren,  and  be  thought  worthy  to  govern  that  convent 
for  twelve  years.     He  died  12th  August,  1605,  »t.  sixty-six. 

Brett,  Robert,  S.J.,  nephew,  I  suspect,  of  the  last» 
mentioned  prior,  and  of  a  most  amiable  and  cheerful  dispo- 
sition. He  died  at  St.  Omer's  on  8rd  November,  1678, 
having  been  enrolled  amongst  the  professed  fathers  of  the 
Four  Vows  three  months  only. 

Brewer,  John,  S.J.,  bom  at  Fishwick,  near  Preston, 
29th  December,  1732 ;  joined  the  order  at  the  age  of  twenty. 
In  June,  1764,  he  commenced  his  missionary  career  at 
Odstock,  near  Salisbury,  thence  was  removed  to  Shepton 
Mallett,  where  he  continued  until  carried  off  by  apoplexy, 
1st  September,  1797.  His  remains  were  deposited  in 
St.  Joseph's  Chapel,  Bristol,  to  which  he  had  be^  a  liberal 

*  This  iUustrious  doctor  was  son  of  John  Giflfard,  Esq.,  by  his  wife 
Elizabeth  (Throckmorton^  and  was  bom  in  1565.  Whilst  prior  at 
St.  Malo's,  Louis,  cardinal  archbishop  of  Rheims^the  brother  ox  Henry, 
duke  of  Guise,  obtained  him  for  his  coadjutor  ^'cum  jure  snccessionis/' 
Oblit  11th  April,  1629. 


BIOORAPfllCAIi  LIST  OF  THE   CLBBOT.  247 

benefactor.     Shepton  and  Exeter  missions  shared  also  in  his 
bounty. 

Brewer,  Thomas,  S.  J.,  younger  brother  of  the  last-men- 
tioned, was  bom  19th  June,  1743.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  was  admitted  into  the  Society.  After  serving  Lydiate  and 
Fazakerly,  near  Liverpool,  he  was  sent  to  Bristol,  where  he 
ended  his  useful  life  on  18th  April,  1787. 

Brewer  (Bede),  John,  O.S.B.  and  D.D. — ^In  page  56  of 
the  first  part  I  have  treated  of  this  brilliant  ornament  of  the 
Benedictine  Congregation,  who  died  its  president,  at  Woolston, 
near  Liverpool,  on  18th  April,  1822,  and  was  buried  in  Peel- 
street  Chapel.  This  very  learned  and  experienced  religious 
edited,  in  1774,  the  second  edition  of  Hookers  '^Religionis 
Naturalis  et  Bevelatse  Principia,''  in  three  volumes,  which 
he  enriched  with  several  dissertations. 

Briant,  Alexander,  S.J.,  of  Somersetshire. — ^This  able 
and  zealous  secular  priest  had  vowed  to  embrace  the  Society 
of  Jesus,  and  whilst  a  prisoner  for  the  faith,  God  satisfied 
the  desire  of  his  heart.  His  letter,  full  of  the  heavenly 
spirit,  addressed  to  his  brethren  of  the  Society,  is  given 
in  Tanner's  Lives,  pp.  16,  17.  From  the  hands  of  this 
man  of  God,  the  last  consolations  of  religion  were  adminis- 
tered to  Henry  Persons,  of  Nether  Stowey  (father  of  the 
celebrated  Robert  Persons,  S.J.),  late  in  the  year  1579.  Of 
the  excruciating  tortures  which  this  heroic  priest  had  to 
sufler  in  the  Tower  before  he  consummated  his  martyrdom 
at  l^bum,  1st  December,  1581,  aged  twenty-eight,  see 
iRishton's  Diary,  Challoner's  faithfiol  Memoirs,  and  F.  More's 
History. 

Briant,  Robert,  S.J.,  of  Somersetshire. — ^At  the  age  of 
thirty-seven  he  joined  the  order,  and  in  the  following  year 
was  sent  to  the  English  mission.  He  was  chiefly  employed 
in  the  residence  of  St.  Stanislaus,  which  then  included  the 
diocese  of  Exeter ;  and  there,  I  apprehend,  he  finished  his 
career  of  earthly  labours  on  29th  March,  1658,  set.  seventy. 

Bridgewater,  John,  of  an  ancient  fisonily  in  Somerset- 
shire. In  Bishop  Veysey's  Register,  vol.  i.  fol.  136,  I 
discover,  that  on  the  presentation  of  King  Edward  YI.,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Uving  of  St.  Blase  and  St.  Austle,  in 
Cornwall,  on  2nd  April,  1550.  In  the  reigns  of  Queens 
Mary  and  Elizabeth  many  ecclesiastical  preferments  were 
showered  upon  him ;  but,  in  obedience  to  the  voice  of  con- 
science, he  abandoned  them  all  in  1574.  He  was  still  living, 
twenty  years  later^  at  Treves,  where  he  published  an  enlarged 


248  BIOOaAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THB   CLCRGT. 

edition  of  F.  John  GKbbon's  ''  Concertatio  Ecdesiffi  Catholiae 
in  AngliA."  CoUinson  ("  History  of  Somerset,"  vol.  ii.  p.  40) 
admits  that  ^'  he  was  held  in  general  esteem,  as  a  sensible 
ecclesiastic/'  That  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  die 
Jesnits  at  Treves,  appears  more  probable ;  but  the  date  of 
such  admission,  and  even  of  his  death,  have  eluded  hitherto 
all  investigation. 

Brigham,  Henry,  S.J.,  born  in  Manchester  28rd  June, 
1796;  studied  with  distinction  at  Stonyhurst,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  entered  the  society:  was  ordained  priest  at 
Maynooth  on  1st  June,  1821.  This  very  polite  scholar  twice 
filled  the  oflSce  of  Prefect  of  Studies.  Hereford,  Preston, 
Bury  St.  Edmunds,  Pontefract,  Oxford,  and  London,  have 
had  the  benefit  of  his  missionary  zeal,  and  have  admired  his 
pulpit  eloquence,  since  23rd  December,  1854.  The  new 
church  of  Teignmouth  was  privileged  to  possess  him  for  its 
pastor,  till,  on  28th  February  of  this  year,  1856,  he  was 
removed  to  Ugbrooke,  vice  F.  Charles  Lomax,  transferred  to 
Teignmouth. 

Brindle  (Basil),  John,  O.S.B.,  bom  at  Clayton,  near 
Chorley,  80th  December,  1746 ;  went  to  St.  Gregory's  Con- 
vent, Douay,  28th  April,  1761.  For  several  years  this  amiable 
religious  was  stationed  at  Lanheme,  where  he  was  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  parties.  He  left,  before  the  Theresian 
nuns,  iu  August,  1794,  were  put  in  possession  of  Lanheme 
House,  to  succeed  to  the  mission  of  Bonham,  but  from  which 
he  retired  7th  September,  1801,  from  ill  health,  and  even- 
tually settled  himself  down  with  his  brother  at  Claybrook. 
Dying  of  dropsy  on  8th  December,  1802,  he  was  buried  on 
the  south  side  of  Walton  churchyard,  near  Preston,  His 
tombstone  bears  his  simple  initials,  J.  B. 

Brindle,  Ralph,  bom  6th  January,  1814,  and  nephew  to 
the  Eev.  Dr.  Brindle,  studied  at  Prior-park,  where  he  was 
ordained  priest  by  Bishop  Baines  on  14th  March,  1840,  and 
said  his  first  Mass  on  St.  Joseph's  feast,  five  days  later. 
For  ten  years  he  served  Upton,  in  Dorsetshire,  but  left  it  for 
Tawstock  on  8th  February,  1850.  Religion  must  ever  be 
indebted  to  him  for  his  personal  sacrifices  and  indefatigable 
exertions  in  completing  and  opening  the  church  of  Barn- 
staple on  26th  October,  1855.  It  had  been  consecrated  on 
Wednesday,  the  preceding  day,  with  imposing  solemnity. 
At  the  formation  of  the  Plymouth  chapter  this  exemplary 
priest  was  nominated  a  member. 

Brindle,  Thomas,  D.D.,  bom  at  Walton  18th  December, 
1791 ;  studied  at  Ampleforth,  where  he  took  the  Benedictine 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLBBOT.  240 

hMt,  and  was  professed,  with  Mr.  Metcalf,  25th  October, 
1811 ;  was  ordained  a  priest  in  September,  1815,  and  two 
years  later  was  appointed  by  the  chapter  assistant  to  Dr. 
Baines,  of  the  same  order,  to  their  Benedictine  mission  of 
Bath.  On  the  death  of  Bishop  CoUingridge,  which  occurred 
at  Cannington  on  Srd  March,  1829,  being  notified  to  his 
coadjutor  Dr.  Baines,  then  at  Borne,  his  lordship,  as  successor 
to  the  Western  Yicariat,  appointed  Dr.  Brindle  to  be  the 
administrator  of  the  diocese  and  grand  vicar  until  he  could 
return  home.  His  lordship  further  obtained  for  him  letters 
of  secularization,  and  in  the  summer  of  1830  made  him 
regent  of  his  newly-established  college  at  Prior-park,  with 
the  history  of  which  his  name  must  be  for  ever  identified.  In 
November,  1849,  Dr.  Booker  succeeded  him  as  regent.  He 
is  now  (1856)  a  Monsignore,  and  Provost  and  Yicar-general 
of  the  diocese  of  Clifton. 

Brittain,  Lewis,  O.S.D.  and  S.T.P. — ^This  distinguished 
religious  was  bom  near  Chester,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
was  reconciled,  with  his  brother  William,  to  the  Catholic 
Church.  Two  years  later  Lewis  passed  over  to  France,  to 
perfect  himself  in  the  French  language.  Falling  in  with  an 
exemplary  priest  in  Picardy,  his  mind  became  luisorbed  with 
heavenly  desires;  and  at  length,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
he  devoted  himself  to  God  in  the  order  of  St.  Dominic.  For 
many  vears  he  taught  at  Bomhem  with  the  highest  reputa- 
tion; but  before  the  commencement  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion he  accepted  the  office  of  director  of  the  English  Domi- 
nicanesses at  Brussels,  an  office  that  he  retained  until  his 
death,  t .  e.  for  the  space  of  thirty-six  years  and  nine  months. 
When  the  French  army  was  daily  expected  at  Brussels,  this 
experienced  counsellor,  faithful  Mend,  and  afiEectionate  father, 
escorted  his  dear  community  from  their  convent  of  the 
Rosary  on  22nd  June,  1794,  conducted  them  safely  to  Eng- 
land, saw  them  comfortably  settled  at  Harpury  Court,  and 
ended  his  days  amongst  them  on  Srd  May,  1827,  set.  eighty- 
three,  rel.  sixty.  He  had  served  the  office  of  provincial  of 
his  brethren  firom  1814  to  1818.  The  works  of  this  gifted 
scholar  and  divine  are  well  known  and  appreciated. 

B&ooKE,  Charles,  S.J.,  son  of  James  and  Sarah  Brooke,^ 
bom  in  the  Second  Back-lane,  Exeter,  8th  August,  1777. 
Naturally  he  was  of  a  strong  constitution ;  but,  as  his  mother 
told  me,  in  consequence  of  three  successive  fiedls,  through  the 

•  They  were  married  at  Arlington  on  27th  November,  1766.  The 
elder  brother,  James  Henry,  bom  26th  May*  1771 9  is  still  living,  at 
Clapham  Rise.    Their  father  died  27th  July,  1783. 


250  BIOOIUPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEROT. 

careleBsness  of  his  narse,  lie  became  feeble  and  attenuated: 
By  the  charity  of  his  patron^  the  Bev.  Joseph  Reeve,  of 
Ugbrooke,  he  was  admitted  into  the  Academy  of  Idege  on 
16th  July,  1788.  For  his  age,  he  was  already  tolerably 
advanced  under  the  instructions  of  Mr.  Laurence  Halloran 
and  the  Bev.  Joseph  Bretland.  Of  the  latter  I  have  heard 
him  speak  in  terms  of  high  commendation.  At  Liege  he  was 
placed  under  the  Bev.  John  Laurenson,  and  distinguished 
himself  amongst  his  fellow-students  by  his  piety  and  diligence. 
After  passing  with  credit  the  course  of  humanities  and  phi- 
losophy, his  assiduous  attention  to  divinity  was  interrupted 
by  the  successes  of  the  French  republican  forces,  and  at 
length  he  had  to  share  in  the  miseries  of  the  emigration  in 
the  summer  of  1794,  and  was  amongst  the  earliest  of  the 
arrivals  at  Stonyhurst  on  29th  August  that  year.  To  the 
organization  of  the  collegiate  course  of  studies  all  must  admit 
that  he  rendered  very  important  service  by  his  classic  taste, 
discrimination,  and  judgment;  and  several  of  his  pupils — 
Shiel  amongst  the  rest— did  honour  to  his  tuition ;  yet  per- 
haps he  was  too  fastidious,  too  wasteful  of  time  in  pondering 
the  minuiue  of  criticism. 

After  a  splendid  defension  of  the  whole  course  of  theology, 
he  was  promoted* to  the  priesthood  at  Maynooth  by  Arch- 
bishop Troy,  on  12th  June,  1802,  and  on  26th  September  of 
the  following  year  consecrated  himself  to  his  Ood  in  the 
revived  Society  of  Jesus.  On  8th  September,  1818,  he  was 
numbered  amongst  its  professed  fathers. 

To  the  Enfield  mission  he  had  been  appointed  in  1817,  and 
there  he  opened  its  present  chapel  on  11th  July,  1819;  but 
on  15th  t^ebruary,  1826,  he  was  called  from  the  missionary  life 
to  fill  the  office  of  provincial  for  six  years,  and  at  an  eventful 
period.  At  the  expiration  of  his  government,  he  rendered 
invaluable  aid  to  the  seminary  as  well  as  to  the  college,  as 
spiritual  father  and  director  of  studies. 

The  last  seven  years  of  his  life  he  spent  in  his  native  city. 
Whilst  on  a  visit  to  me  in  the  autumn  of  1845  (he  had  arrived 
on  10th  September),  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  he  received 
a  letter  from  the  provincial,  F.  Lythgoe,  dated  Lincoln,  18th 
October  that  year,  commencing  thus:  ''My  wish  is,  after 
having  taken  counsel  from  those  whom  it  is  my  duty  to  con- 
sult, that  you  should  collect  and  arrange  the  materials  which 
may  serve  for  a  continuation  of  the  history  of  the  province, 
where  the  history  written  by  F.  More  stops.  It  is  thought, 
and  I  believe  with  reason,  that  you  will  be  able  to  do  this 
better  at  Exeter,  assisted  by  Dr.  Oliver,  than  in  any  other 
place.    My  wish,  therefore,  is,  that  you  should  take  the  house 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLCROT,  251 

uext  to  him.  Whatever  is  necessary  to  make  it  comfortable 
shall  be  furnished  to  you.  I  should  have  stated  all  this 
before  to  your  reverence^  had  I  not  thought  it  expedient  to 
mention  my  intention  first  to  F.  Oeneral,  in  order  that  if  his 
paternity  had  any  views  with  respect  to  your  reverence  which 
would  be  incompatible  with  your  proposed  office,  he  might 
state  them. 

"  I  feel,  and  so  do  others,  that  no  one  is  so  capable  as  your 
reverence,  assisted  by  Dr.  Oliver,  to  perform  this  most  im^ 
portant  task,  and  that  if  the  work  be  not  performed  now,  much 
valuable  information,  known  to  yourself  and  Dr.  Oliver,  will 
be  lost.  I  trust  that  your  reverence's  zeal  for  the  public 
good  will  therefore  lead  you  to  undertake  this  important  duty 
with  cheerfulness  and  energy.  Dr.  O.  has  nearly  finishea 
his  Monasticon,  and  will  therefore,  I  hope,  be  at  liberty  to 
co-operate  with  you.     I  beg  mv  kind  regards  to  him.'' 

I  wrote  back  that  "  I  should  be  a  willing  pioneer  in  the 
service;"  but  what  progress  my  learned  friend  made  in  his 
history  I  could  never  ascertain.  He  took  possession  of  the 
adjoining  house  on  5th  November,  1845,  and  continued  his 
reserve  and  seclusion  until  his  death,  6th  October,  1852, 
expiring  in  the  very  room  wherein  his  good  mother  had  died 
in  my  arms  on  18th  July,  1828,  set.  ninety-four.  He  was 
buried  over  her,  behind  St.  Nicholas's  Chapel.  Eight  priests 
assisted  at  his  dirge,  and  the  first  High  Mass  sung  at  Exeter 
since  the  Reformation  was  celebrated  at  hi»  obsequies  on 
11th  October.     R.  I.  P. 

Brooke,  Leonard,  S.  J.,  bom  in  Maryland,  14th  January, 
1750;  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered  the  Novitiate;  for 
some  years  was  chaplain  at  Slindon;  but  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  missionary  life  at  LuUworth,  where  he  was  much 
admired  as  a  catechist.  Dying  7th  July,  1813,  his  remains 
were  deposited  in  the  vault  of  the  Weld  family,  with  this 
epitaph  from  the  hand  of  his  cof^hre  F.  Charles  Flowden. 


A.    ^   O. 


H.  S.  E. 

Leonardus  Brooke  olim 

Soc.  Jesu  AIumnuB :  annos  aroplins  xx« 

Hujos  Sacr8e  iBdis  Sacerdos  et 

Gustos^  cui  locum  sepultursB  inter 

Suos  dedit  Thomas  Weld 

Pietatis  causft.    Deceasit  Non.  Julii 

An.  Mocccxiii. 

R.  I.  P. 

Brooke,  Thomas,  was  bom  in  Exeter,  of  Protestant  pa* 
rents,  and  baptized  at  St.  Edmund's  Church  14th  May,  1727. 


352  BIOOBAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLBBOT. 

The  father  becoming  a  Catholic,  though  subsequently  he 
gave  up  the  practice  of  his  religion,  young  Thomas  was  sent 
to  the  English  College  at  Lisbon,  where  he  qualified  himself 
for  the  priesthood;  and  is  said  to  have  been  nominated  a 
chaplain  to  the  queen  of  Portugal.  He  was  in  the  college 
when  the  frightful  earthquake,  on  Ist  November,  1765, 
spread  consternation  and  ruin  in  the  city.  All  his  commu- 
nity escaped  with  their  lives,  with  the  exception  of  the  presi- 
dent, Mr.  Manley,  whose  body  could  not  be  extricated  from 
the  mass  of  stone  and  timber  until  three  days  after  the 
mournful  catastrophe.  The  Bev.  Thomas  Brooke  never 
recovered  from  the  calamitous  shock,  and,  as  I  find  by  a 
mourning  ring,  died  3rd  May,  1756,  set.  29. 

Brown  (Joseph),  Thomas,  Right  Rbv.,  S.T.P.,  O.S.B. — 
Of  this  luminary  of  the  Benedictine  congregation  and  orna- 
ment of  the  episcopal  order,  a  volume  might  be  written. 
I  must  leave  it  to  posterity  to  do  justice  to  his  merits;  mine 
is  the  humble  task  to  record  a  few  facts  connected  with  his 
biography. 

He  was  bom  in  the  city  of  Bath  on  2nd  May,  1798 ;  and 
made  his  studies  at  Acton  Bumell,  where,  in  1813,  he  took 
the  Benedictine  habit.  Both  there  and  at  Downside  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  such  assiduity  and  success,  as  soon  to 
be  qualified  to  take  the  chair  of  philosophy,  and  not  long  after 
of  divinity.  As  early  as  1826  he  published  an  able  letter 
addressed  to  Archdeacon  Daubeny,  prebendary  of  Sarum, 
exposing  his  misrepresentations  of  the  Eucharist  (8vo.  London, 
pp.  45).  On  18th  July,  1884,  he  was  appointed  prior  of 
Downside,  and  six  days  later  was  awarded  by  the  president 
the  title  and  insignia  of  D.D.*  When  Pope  Gregory  XVI., 
by  his  brief,  dated  3rd  July,  1840,  doubled  the  number  of 
English  vicars-apostolic,  the  Western  Yicariat  was  divided 
into  two;  and  Dr.  Brown,  then  prior  of  Downside,  was 
selected  to  govern  the  whole  of  North  and  South  Wales, 
with  the  counties  of  Monmouth  and  Hereford  attached. 
His  consecration  to  this  see,  by  the  title  of  Bishop  of  Apollonia, 
in  the  archdiocese  of  Thessalonica;,  was  solemnly  performed 
on  28th  October,  1840,  in  St.  John's  Chapel,  Bath,  by 
Bishop  Griffiths,  assisted  by  Bishops  Wareing  and  Collier, 
and  on  that  occasion  Bishop  Wiseman  delivered  a  most 
appropriate  address.    Whilst  all  friends  of  religion  hailed 

*  This  was  done,  in  consequence  of  the  privilege  granted  hy  Pope 
Pius  Vll..  on  Ist  June,  1823,  to  the  president  of  the  English  monks,  of 
creating  tnree  of  his  subjects,  who  had  taught  a  coarse  of  theology, 
Doctors  of  Divinity. 


BIOOIUPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY.  253 

this  happy  choice,  he  might  well  say, ''  Ostium  mihimagnam 
apertum  est  et  eyidens,  et  adversarii  multi"  (1  Cor.  xvi.  9), 
but  could  add  with  the  same  apostle,  '^  Omnia  possum  in 
Eo  qui  me  confortat''  (Phil,  iv,  13).  Heaven  manifestly 
blessed  and  prospered  his  apostolical  exertions.  And  yet,  after 
having  done  so  much,  and  deserved  so  well  of  North  Wales 
during  ten  years,  it  must  have  been  an  acute  trial,  when,  at 
Michaelmas,  1850,  the  hierarchy  was  established,  to  submit 
to  the  amputation  of  that  lai^  member  from  his  diocese. 
But  I  know  from  his  own  letters  how  meekly,  how  dis- 
interestedly he  acquiesced  in  the  sacrifice,  comforting  himself 
with  the  hope,  that  what  he  lost  in  temporal  resources  might 
be  indemnified  by  the  gain  to  religion. 

The  pen  and  the  eloquent  tongue  of  this  scholar  and  divine 
have  always  been  at  the  command  of  faith  and  of  charity. 
Who  has  not  read  with  admiration  his  vindication  of  CathoUc 
truth  against  Messrs.  Batcheller  and  Newenham  in  1833  ? 
his  exposure  of  the  ingenious  devices  of  M'Ghee  in  1838?  and 
his  triumphant  controversy  with  the  Rev.  Joseph  Baylee,  of 
Birkenhead,  in  1851  ?  To  this  friendly  prelate  of  Menevia 
I  may  apply  the  words  of  St.  Jerome  to  St.  Augustine 
(Epist.  57),  ''Macte  virtute:  in  Urbe  celebraris.  Catholici 
te  conditorem  antiquae  rursum  Fidei  venerantur  atque  suspi- 
ciunt ;  et  quod  signum  majoris  gloriae  est,  omnes  Hseretici 
detestantur.'' 

Brownbill, James,  S.J.,  bom  at  Gillmoss,  co.  Lancashire, 
on  31st  July,  1798;  studied  at  Stonyhurst,  and  on  7th  Sep- 
tember,  1815,  followed  the  example  of  his  saintly  brothers 
Thomas  and  Francis,  by  enlisting  under  the  standard  of 
St.  Ignatius.  James,  after  teaching  humanities  and  fiUing 
the  office  of  prefect,  was  ordained  priest  at  Stonyhurst  by 
Bishop  Penswick,  on  30th  July,  1829,  and  the  next  day,  his 
birthday  and  the  feast  of  his  holy  founder,  celebrated  his 
first  Mass.  Quitting  the  college,  where  he  had  endeared 
himself  to  all  who  came  under  his  charge,  he  reached 
Ugbrooke,  to  succeed  F.  James  Laurenson,  on  27th  November, 
1830.  To  his  great  comfort  and  joy,  he  removed  from  the 
great  house  to  the  convenient  presbyt^re  formed  for  him  at 
Ashwell,  on  Wednesday,  26th  June,  1832.  In  the  Appendix 
to  the  first  part  of  this  compilation  I  have  inserted  the  part- 
ing address  of  his  attached  fiock  on  Sunday,  27th  September, 
1^5,  when  his  patron  sternly  insisted  on  their  separation. 

By  his  immediate  superiors  he  was  duly  honoured  on  his 
return  to  the  college.  After  filling  the  office  of  its  rector 
from  26th  May,  1836,  till  3rd  June,  1839,  then  supplying 


254  BIOOIIAFHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY. 

the  place  of  its  minister  for  a  twelTemomtli,  and  for  another 
year  the.incumbency  of  the  Bedford  mission,  near  Leigh,  in 
his  native  county,  he  was  appointed  rector  of  the  establish- 
ment  in  London.  Here,  during  the  space  of  fourteen  years, 
he  laboured  like  an  apostle,  becoming  all  to  all.  In  con- 
sequence of  impaired  health,  he  has  been  released  from  that 
arduous  charge  since  25th  August,  1855,  and  has  been 
transferred  to  the  comparatively  easy  mission  at  Bury  St. 
Edmunds. 

Bruning,  Francis,  O.S.B.,  was  professed  at  Lambspring 
Ist  May,  1699 ;  succeeded  F.  Bannister  as  the  incumbent  of 
Bath,  and  served  that  Benedictine  mission  for  six  years. 
Ob.  18th  August,  1748. 

Bruning,  Thomas,  O.S.B.,  a  native  of  the  diocese  of 
Exeter.  All  that  I  can  glean  of  him  besides  is,  that  after 
five  years'  service  at  Bonham,  he  died  there  on  6th  August, 
1719. 

Brushtord,  John,  of  the  diocese  of  Exeter,  arrived  at 
Bome  14th  June,  1581.  Towards  the  end  of  chapter  X.  of 
first  part,  p.  99,  I  have  mentioned  him  as  a  priest  on  the 
Plains  of  Salisbury,  anno  1594;  after  which  he  eludes  my 
researches  (vol.  III.  of  Canon  Tiemey's  Dodd,  p.  137). 

BucKLAND,  Ralph,  of  Somersetshire. — After  his  conver* 
uon  he  renounced  a  plentiftil  estate  to  follow  Christ.  His 
seal  for  the  salvation  of  souls  obtained  for  him  the  honour, 
like  St.  Paul,  of  being  the  "  Vinctus  Christi  Jesu.^' — (Ep.  ad 
Philem.)  He  was  one  of  the  forty-seven  priests  sent  from 
different  jails  in  1606  into  perpetual  banishment,  and  sur- 
vived five  years. 

Buckle,  William. — ^This  reverend  gentleman  was  bom  at 
Stinchcombe,  co.  Gloucester,  on  5th  July,  1826;  sent  to 
Winchester  school  in  July,  1848 ;  matriculated  at  Oxford  in 
March,  1845;  was  received  into  the  Catholic  Church  at  Oscott 
on  7th  February,  1847;  went  to  Home  in  September  following, 
where  he  was  admitted  to  minor  orders  19th  March,  1848 ; 
to  sub-deaconship,  8rd  March,  1849.  Quitting  then  the 
Eternal  City,  he  was  promoted  to  deaconship  at  Ushaw 
College  on  18th  September,  1852,  and  finally  to  priesthood 
on  21st  May,  1858.  B^tuming  to  his  native  diocese.  Bishop 
Burgess  appointed  him  to  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  Montpelier, 
Bath,  which  situation  he  resigned  to  become  secretary  to 
Dr.  Yaughan,  who  was  installed  bishop  of  Plymouth  on 
25th  September,  1855.  I  may  truly  say  of  him,  in  the 
words  of  Cicero,  de  Amicitia,  ^'Bonam  spem  pnelucet  in 


BIOOKAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THB   CLBRGT.  255 

posteram."  What  a  comfort  it  must  have  been  to  him  to 
behold  his  parents  and  sister  admitted  into  the  one  fold  of 
the  one  Shepherd!— (See ''  Directory''  of  1849,  p.  177.)  Since 
writing  the  above,  the  reverend  gentleman  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  Lyme  Regis,  vice  Bonn. 

BuNN,  Joseph  Walstan*  (son  of  Francis  and  Mary 
Bunn,  olim  Conolly),  bom  at  Cossey,  near  Yarmoath,  11th 
December,  1823  ;t  educated  at  Oscott,  where  he  was  pro- 
moted to  priesthood  in  the  Ember  Week  of  Lent,  1847. 
After  unceasing  exertions  of  zeal  in  the  metropolis,  his 
health  became  so  impaired,  that  the  faculty  urged  the 
expediency  of  the  sea-side.  Cardinal  Wiseman  and  Arch- 
bishop Errington,  who  appreciated  his  merits  at  Oscott,  have 
stationed  him  at  Lyme  since  7th  July,  1855,  vice  Rev.  James 
Conolly.  I  am  happy  in  the  belief  that  the  change  has 
proved  beneficial  to  his  valuable  health.  On  25th  April, 
1856,  he  left  for  Poole  to  succeed  Canon  WooUett. 

BuROEss,  Thomas,  Right  Rev.,  D.D.,  bom  1st  October, 
1791,  in  CO.  Lancashire;  was  nephew  to  that  holy  monk  the 
Rev.  James  Burgess,  who  died  at  Myddelton  Lodge  on 
22nd  August,  1837,  set.  seventy,  after  being  forty  years 
chaplain  to  the  Middelton  family.  La  early  life  Thomas 
devoted  himself  to  his  Creator  in  the  order  of  St.  Benedict, 
and  was  professed  at  Ampleforth,  with  Dr.  Rooker,  on  13th 
October,  1807,  where  he  received  his  education.  His  solid 
virtues  and  urbanity  of  manners  won  for  him  the  love  and 
confidence  of  his  religious  brethren,  insomuch  that  he  was 
elected  prior  in  July,  1818.  Whilst  still  holding  that  office, 
in  the  spring  of  1830,  he  was  over-persuaded,  with  Dr.  Rooker 
and  F.  Edward  Mecalfe,  that  they  would  do  a  better  thing  to 
forsake  their  first  love,  or  vocation  to  the  Benedictine  oider, 
obtain  their  secularization,  and  concentrate  their  talents,  and 
energies,  and  influence,  in  raising  up  a  new  collegiate 
establishment  at  Prior-park.  Their  abrupt  withdrawal,  as 
weU  as  of  several  students,  excited  alarm,  and  threatened 
shipwreck  to  Ampleforth;  but,  like  a  gallant  vessel,  she 
righted  again,  and  most  prosperously  %  continues  her  course. 

*  Walstan  was  a  saint  from  his  cradle,  and  died  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cossey  on  20th  May,  1016. 

t  Dr.  HusenbetH,  the  missionary  of  St.  Ausnstine's,  of  Canterhnry, 
baptized  the  infant  on  the  dav  of  his  birth.  Walstan  Francis  Xavier 
Joseph  was  the  name  assameA  on  his  becoming  a  Passionist. 

X  In  the  autumn  of  1855  Ampleforth  could  count  seventy-two  stu- 
dents, eight  professors,  and  besides  nine  others  who  had  taken  their 
solemn  vows,  two  novices,  and  two  lay  brothers.  A  new  coUegiate 
church,  100  feet  in  length,  was  in  course  of  erection ;  and  the  fathers 


266  BIOGBAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY. 

After  staying  some  time  at  Prior-park^  Bishop  Baines  trans, 
ferred  him  to  Cannington^  and  after  fifteen  months'  sendee 
there^  appointed  him  to  the  charge  of  Portland  chapel,  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Augustine,  near  Queen  Street,  Bath,  which  he 
opened  on  26th  May,  1832;  and  finally  ordered  him  to 
Monmouth,  where  his  peaceftd  virtues  made  him  esteemed 
and  beloved.  On  the  resignation  of  the  Right  Bev.  Dr.  Hen- 
dren,  the  first  bishop  of  the  new  see  of  Clifton,  Dr.  Burgess 
was  selected  to  succeed  him,  and  was  consecrated  27th  July, 
1851.  Superhuman  were  the  efforts  of  this  prelate  to  rescue 
Prior-park  from  its  overwhelming  incumbrances.  After  a 
very  short  illness,  this  amiable  bishop  sunk  in  the  arms  of 
death  at  Westbury-on-Trym,  27th  November,  1854.  "  Now 
to  his  ashes  honour;  peace  be  with  him." 

Well  might  the  administrator  of  the  diocese  of  Clifton, 
Archbishop  Errington,  in  his  Pastoral  of  30th  January, 
1856,  announcing  the  dissolution  of  the  college  at  Prior- 
park,  observe  to  the  public,  that  ''the  late  bishop  fell  a 
victim  to  the  burden  he  had  undertaken,  and  that  his 
exertions  to  save  it  had  been  imceasing." 

Burke,  John. — This  native  of  Tipperary  was  educated  in 
St.  John's  College,  Waterford.  Bishop  Collingridge  em- 
ployed him  at  St.  Joseph's,  Trenchard  Street,  Bristol,  after 
the  departure  of  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  in  May,  1823; 
but  in  the  spring  of  1825  he  was  transferred  to  Oloucester, 
where  he  remained  about  two  years,  when  he  was  removed 
to  Usk,  where,  in  1831,  "  ashamed  of  the  testimony  of  our 
Lord,  and  rejecting  a  good  conscience,  he  made  shipwreck  of 
the  faith ''  in  1831,  and  winged  his  flight  to  America.  After 
this  fall,  he  vanishes  from  my  research. 

Butler,  alias  Beret,  O.S.B.,  was  the  resident  priest  at 
Hartpury  Court  in  1769;  but  how  long  before,  I  cannot 
ascertain.  Is  this  the  F.  Jerome  Berry  who  died  at  Cowley 
Hill  4th  October,  1786? 

Butler,  Thomas,  D.D.,  born  at  Limerick  in  1800. — Of 
this  ex-Dominican  —  this  renegade  and  impugner  of  the 
known  truth — I  have  treated  at  length  under  Weymouth,  in 
the  fifth  chapter  of  part  first.  May  Ood  give  him  repent- 
ance, and  may  the  unfortunate  man  recover  himself  firom 
the  snares  of  the  devil,  by  whom  he  is  held  captive  I 
(2  Tim.  ii.  25,  26.) 

BuTTERFiELD,  James,  r  vcry  difierent  character  firom  the 

had  puTchaaed  an  excellent  farm  of  100  acres  in  Byland  Abbey,  three 
miles  distant. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE  CLEKOY.  257 

laat-mentioned,  bom  at  Waterford^  was  educated  at  Carlow  and 
Rome.  Full  of  the  ecclesiastical  spirit^  he  accepted  the  mission 
of  Salisbury  in  the  spring  of  1831 ;  but  in  August,  1838| 
was  translated  to  Swansea,  where,  in  the  full  vigour  of  youth, 
he  was  carried  oflf  by  fever,  on  2nd  April,  1885,  deservedly 
lamented.  By  his  own  desire  his  remains  were  conveyed  to 
Waterford. 

Byfleet,  John,  O.S.B.  —  I  meet  with  three  of  this 
surname.  The  two  first,  John,  O.S.B.,  died  at  Stourton, — 
the  senior  in  1652,  the  junior  on  29th  August,  1700.  The 
third,  William,  who  often  passed  by  the  name  of  Gildon. 
In  the  list  of  Popish  Becusants  in  Dorset  in  1718,  "  Gent.*' 
is  aflSxed  to  his  name,  and  an  income  of  £38  per  annum  is 
attributed  to  him.  I  suspect  that  he  was  a  secular  priest. 
The  following  particulars  I  learnt  from  the  mouth  of  that 
veracious  gentleman  the  late  Thomas  Taunton,  Esq.,  who 
was  bom  at  Veers  Wootton,  near  Bridport,  on  9th  June, 
1745,  and  died  at  Axminster  17th  March,  1828:  ''I  was 
baptized  by  the  Rev.  William  Byfleet,  who  had  succeeded 
Mr.  Higgs  as  missionary  at  Chidiock.  When  he  took 
possession,  in  the  reign  of  William  III.,  Mr.  Byfleet  found 
most  of  his  flock  immured  in  Dorchester  jail  for  refusing 
to  take  the  oaths.  He  frequently  visited  them,  and  occa- 
sionally managed  even  to  say  Mass  for  them.  At  the  age  of 
one  hundred  the  venerable  man  submitted  to  the  amputation 
of  a  leg,  and  what  is  remarkable,  survived  the  operation  for 
three  years.  Retiring  to  Stourton,  or  rather  Bonham,  he 
died  on  19th  October,  1846,  the  year  after  baptizing  me." 

Byrne,  Andrew,  bom  in  Newland,  co.  Kildare,  in 
November,  1798 ;  was  educated  at  Carlow  and  at  Rome,  where 
he  was  ordained  priest  29th  June,  1830.  He  then  served 
Spetisbury  for  nearly  three  years.  In  November,  1833, 
he  succeeded  FAbb^  Chanteloup  at  Taunton,  and  after  one 
year's  residence  there  returned  to  Spetisbury,  which  after  some 
time  he  left  for  his  native  country.  He  often  wields  bis 
pen  in  defence  of  religion. 


Caestrtck  (Benedict),  Charles,  O.S.D.,  was  by  birth  a 
Flandrian.  At  the  emigration  from  Bomhem,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  Leicester  mission,  where  he  exhibited  the 
genuine  spirit  of  seal  and  charity  which  characterized  his 
sainted  founder.  On  the  death  of  F.  Adamson  at  Hartpury 
Court,  in  1831,  he  succeeded  him  on  4th  June  of  that  year; 


258  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THB   CLEBOY. 

and  when  the  Dominicanesses  had  to  quit  that  mansion  on 
19th  September,  1839,  after  an  occupation  of  forty-five 
years,  this  firiendly  and  venerable  father  accompanied  them 
to  their  new  convent  of  the  Rosary,  at  Atherstone.  He 
remained  with  them  until  he  had  seen  them  comfortably 
settled;  and  then  retired  to  Hinckley,  where  he  surren- 
dered his  pious  soul  into  the  hands  of  the  God  he  had  so 
faithfully  served  from  his  youth  upwards  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
four,  on  Sunday,  2nd  June,  1844.  On  the  following 
Wednesday  his  precious  remains  were  deposited  in  St.  Peter's 
conventual  Church. 

At  Woodchester  I  saw  a  pleasing  etching  of  the  portrait 
of  this  apostolic  man. 

Calderbank,  James,  O.S.B. — This  zealous  religious,  after 
serving  Weston,  came  to  Bath,  vice  Birdsall,  as  assistant  to 
P.  Ainsworth,  on  whose  death  he  succeeded  to  the  chief 
pastorship  5th  February,  1814.  P.  Calderbank's  "Series  of 
Letters  in  Answer  to  Questions  proposed  by  a  Clergyman 
of  the  Established  Church''  (8vo.  pp.  236.  1814),  for  per- 
spicuity, good  sense,  and  moderation,  do  credit  to  his  heart 
and  understanding.  After  presiding  over  the  Bath  mission 
for  three  years,  he  retired  to  Liverpool,  where  he  died  9th 
April,  1821. 

Calderbank,  Leonard,  nephew  to  the  preceding,  was 
bom  at  Standish,  near  Wigan,  Brd  June,  1809 ;  he  studied 
at  Rome,  and  was  there  ordained  priest  by  dispensa- 
tion, 11th  November,  1832.  He  made  his  d^btU  on  the 
mission  at  Trelawny  on  Ist  November,  183S,  and  left  it  for 
Tawstock  10th  June,  1835;  but  on  20th  September,  the 
same  year,  made  way  for  Dr.  Crowe,  and  proceeded  to 
Weobly,  co.  Hereford,  where  he  opened  St.  Thomas's  Chapel 
on  15th  October,  1835;  afterwards  he  was  despatched  to  the 
Welsh  mission,  thence  to  Poole,  then  to  Cannington;  but 
on  18th  January,  1840,  was  ordered  to  Spetisbury  Convent, 
where  he  found  rest  for  nine  years  and  nearly  eight  months. 
On  9th  November,  1849,  he  was  called  away  from  that 
peaceftd  abode.  It  was  a  painful  separation;  but  he  sub- 
mitted in  the  spirit  of  obedience,  and  on  reaching  Prior-park 
was  appointed,  pro  tempore,  Vice-President,  and  also  to 
teach  a  theological  class.  This  experiment  continued  until 
9th  October,  1850^  when  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
Gloucester  mission. 

Camfian,  Bichard,  S.J.,  of  a  respectable  family  in  Here- 
fordshire. He  joined  the  order  at  the  age  of  twenty-two ; 
for   thirty-six  years  he  laboured  in  the  English  vineyard. 


BIOOKAFHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY.  269 

twenty-four  of  which  period  were  spent  in  these  western 
parts.  He  was  called  np  to  receive  his  retribution  on  9th 
July,  1677,  set.  seventy-two. 

Carey,  James,  was  bom  in  the  parish  of  Kinnetty,  in  the 
diocese  of  Killaloe,  on  25th  February,  1815.  In  1841  he 
volunteered  for  the  Madras  mission,  went  to  India,  and 
finished  his  ecclesiastical  studies  in  the  seminary  of  that 
place.  He  was  afterwards  ordained  Priest,  on  11th  March, 
1843,  by  the  Bight  Bev.  Dr.  Fennelly,  bishop  of  Costoria, 
and  Vicar-Apostolic  of  Madras.  In  1853  he  returned  to 
Europe  in  consequence  of  ill-health,  which  being  somewhat 
restored,  he  went,  in  June,  1854,  to  Plymouth,  where  he 
was  received  by  the  Bight  Bev.  Dr.  Errington,  on  the 
recommendation  of  his  Grace  the  Most  Bev.  Dr.  Cullen, 
archbishop  of  Dublin,  to  whom  Mr.  Carey  had  been  specially 
recommended  by  Bishop  Fennelly.  On  15th  July,  1854,  he 
received  charge  of  the  Falmouth  mission.  His  immediate 
predecessor  was  the  Bev.  Tiberius  Sodorini. 

Carpenter,  Hermenegild,  S.J.,  a  native  of  France,  but 
aggregated  in  early,  life  to  the  English  province.  He  had 
been  employed  in  the  missions  of  Bnnn  and  Liverpool,  before 
he  was  stationed  at  Stapehill,  in  Dorsetshire.  At  length, 
retiring  to  Bury  St.  Edmund's,  he  passed  to  eternal  rest  on 
12th  April,  1770,  set.  sixty-seven,  rel.  forty-nine,  professed 
of  Four  Vows  thirty-one. 

Carr,  James,  bom  at  Preston  4th  Jime,  1795,  was 
educated  at  Stonyhurst ;  he  was  admitted  into  the  Society, 
and  was  ordained  one  of  its  priests,  and  had  served  the  Nor- 
wich and  Worcester  missions,  when  he  was  sent  to  Wardour. 
He  arrived  there  in  March,  1832,  but  not  giving  satisfaction, 
quitted  on  20th  June  that  year.  He  has  long  since  left  the 
Society,  but  is  still  living. 

Carroll,  Anthont,  S. J.,  bom  in  Ireland  10th  September, 
1722;  began  his  noviceship  in  1744,  and  in  1762  was  en- 
rolled amongst  the  professed  Fathers.  Shortly  after  receiving 
priesthood  at  Liege,  in  1754,  he  exercised  his  zeal  and 
talents  at  Shepton  Mallett,  Exeter,  and  other  places.  In 
1776  he  published  at  London,  a  translation  of  Bourdaloue's 
Sermons,  under  the  title  of  "Practical  Divinity,'*  in  four 
vols.  8vo. 

The  end  of  this  good  old  man  was  tragical.  By  the 
''  Gentleman's  Magaadne ''  of  1794,  p.  1055,  it  may  be  seen 
that  he  was  knocked  down  and  robbed  in  Red  lion  Court, 
Fleet  Street,  London,  on  5th  September  of  that  year,  and 

s  2 


260  BIOORAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE    CLEB6T. 

was  conveyed  speechless  to  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  where 
he  died  at  five  o'clock  on  the  following  morning. 

I  am  credibly  informed  that  he  was  cousin  to  F.  John 
Carroll,  S.J.,  founder  of  episcopacy  in  the  United  States, 
consecrated  in  Lullworth  Chapel  15th  August,  1790,  and 
who  died  archbishop  of  Baltimore  on  Sunday,  3rd  December, 
1815,  set.  eighty. 

Carroll,  Michael,  bom  in  co.  Tipperary,  1808;  he 
received  his  education,  for  the  most  part,  at  Maynooth ;  but 
was  promoted  to  the  priesthood  at  Prior-park  on  16th 
November,  1838,  and  on  15th  December  next  ensuing  was 
placed  at  Follaton.  Thence,  on  25th  January,  1845,  he 
was  transferred  to  Stonehouse  as  assistant,  vice  Bampton,  to 
F.  Henry  Riley:  three  years  later  he  was  despatched  to  Olou- 
cester;  after  a  twelvemonth,  to  Falmouth;  and  thence  to 
Tiverton,  in  May,  1851,  where  he  had  to  eke  out  a  sub- 
sistence from  the  impoverished  funds  of  Mr.  Moutier's 
noble  endowment.  After  struggling  with  poverty  and  a 
most  lingering  illness,  during  which  ordeal  he  experienced 
the  generous  consideration  and  attentions  of  Joseph  Chi- 
chester Nagle,  of  Calverleigh,  Esq.,  this  worthy  man  died 
on  the  morning  of  7th  September,  1856,  and  was  interred 
on  the  11th  in  the  chapel-yard. 

Cartll,  Charles,  S.J.,  died  the  incumbent  of  Stapehill, 
12th  June,  1745,  aet.  sixty,  Soc.  forty-one.  A  gravestone 
in  the  nave  of  the  parish  church  (Ham-Preston)  is  thus 
inscribed : — 

"  Here  lyeth  the  body  of  Mr.  Charles  Caryll,  S.J.,  who  died  the  12th 
day  of  Jane,  1745." 

Cartll,  Richard,  S.J.,  brother,  I  think,  to  Charles 
Caryll,  and  his  successor  at  Stapehill.  There  he  died  18th 
February,  1750,  O.S.,  aet.  fifty-three,  and  was  buried  also  in 
Ham-Pi^ton  Church.  He  had  previously  been  stationed  at 
Bonham. 

Q.  Were  not  these  Jesuits  members  of  the  respectable 
family  of  Caryll,  of  East  Grinstead,  Sussex?  In  looldng 
over  the  chapter-books  of  the  EngUsh  Franciscan  province^ 
I  find  that  Edward  Caryll,  Esq.,  founded  a  mission  for  them 
at  the  cost  of  jei,300  (15th  July,  1758,  p.  352) ;  but  fixed 
{inter  alia)  the  following  obligation  of  Masses : — 

For  his  &ther,  John  Caryll,  24th  April;  for  his  mother, 
Elisabeth  Caryll,  2nd  November,*  for  Catherine  his  wife. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF  THB   CL£B6Y»  261 

7th  January ;  Nathaniel  Pigott,  15th  Pehruary ;  John  Caryll, 
jun.,  17th  April;  Henry  CaryD,  11th  February;  Richard 
CaryU,  10th  February ;  Ralph  Pigott,  9th  January. 

Casemore^  William  Ignatius^  O.S.F.^  bom  at  Reading- 
ISth  September^  1751^  after  making  his  first  studies 
amongst  the  Jesuits^  embraced  the  holy  rule  of  St.  Francis. 
He  had  been  employed  in  several  parts  of  the  English  vine- 
jbtA,  before  he  tendered  his  services  to  Bishop  Sharrock^ 
V.A.  of  the  Western  District,  who  sent  him,  in  January, 
1805,  to  Falmouth  as  its  first  incumbent.  Here  he  cond- 
nued  for  thirteen  years  and  a  half,  when  declining  health 
occasioned  his  retirement  to  the  Convent  of  Poor  Clares,  at 
Coxside,  Plymouth,  where  he  died,  29th  November,  1824, 
and  was  buried  in  their  cemetery. 

Cary,  Edward. — Judging  from  the  family  pedigree,  I 
infer  that  he  was  the  third  son  of  G-eorge  Cary,  of  Cockington, 
Esq.,  by  his  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Sey- 
mour, of  Berry  Poraeroy,  Bart.  During  the  civil  wars, 
Edward,  like  his  elder  brother  Sir  Henry  Cary,  Knight, 
served  as  an  officer  in  the  royal  army.  When  the  King's 
cause  became  desperate,  he  embraced  the  ecclesiastical  state, 
and  became  a  missionary.  At  the  accession  of  King  James 
II.,  he  was  appointed  chaplain-general  to  his  Majesty's 
Catholic  forces,  and  after  the  Revolution  was  employed  in 
confidential  negotiations  with  the  friends  of  legitimate 
monarchy.  He  died  in  1711,  and  according  to  Dodd  was 
author  of  the  '^  Catechist  catechized  concerning  the  Oath  of 
Allegiance,'*  1681,  in  12mo.,  under  the  name  of  Adolphus 
Brontius. 

Cary,  Francis,  S.J. — In  the  Provincial  Catalogue  he  is 
described  as  having  been  bom  in  Devonshire  in  1610 ;  but 
from  the  Cary  pedigree  I  can  learn  nothing  to  throw 
further  light  upon  him.  That  he  joined  the  Society  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven  is  certain.  Perhaps  he  was  then  in 
priest's  orders.  Having  taught  philosophy  at  Liege  for  some 
time,  he  returned  to  England,  and  died  in  the  London 
mission  19th  June,  1655. 

Caset,  William,  bom  in  Tipperary,  a.d.  1800. — He  was 
educated  in  St.  John's  College,  Waterford,  and  there  was 
ordained  at  the  age  of  twenty-four;  he  succeeded  I'Abbd 
Dessaux  at  MamhaQ,  and  on  8rd  July,  1832,  had  the  honour 
and  comfort,  after  much  anxiety,  to  open  his  beautiful  chapel 
there.    On  Friday^  April  6th^  1839,  he  left  for  a  time  to 


262  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLSRGY. 

supply  at  Tawstock;  but  returned  to  Mamhull  ISth  May, 
1840,  to  the  joy  of  his  attached  congregation. 

Cass,  Patrick,  educated  at  All-Hallow's  College,  Dublin, 
.was  ordained  at  Maynooth,  24th  June,  1852,  and  sent  to 
Plymouth  as  an  assistant  priest  at  St.  Mary's  under  the 
training  of  Bishop  Errington.  At  the  end  of  a  twelvemonth 
he  was  transferred  to  Bridport. 

Catrow,  Charles,  educated  at  Donay  College.  One  who 
knew  him  well  describes  him  as  '^  a  gentleman  of  much  good 
sense,  good  temper,  and  merit.''  He  is  connected  with  the 
west  by  holding  the  situation  of  director  to  the  Augustinian 
Nuns  at  Spetisbury,  where,  "  having  adorned  the  doctrine  of 
God  our  Saviour  in  all  things"  (Titus  ii.  10),  he  meekly 
resigned  his  soul  into  the  handis  of  lus  Maker  on  12th  March, 
1804,  aged  fifty-one.  His  friend  the  Rev.  Ralph  South- 
worth  has  inscribed  the  following  verses  on  his  tomb  : — 

**  For  thee,  the  Virgin  wand'ring  in  this  grove, 
Sacred  to  solitude  and  heav'n-bom  love, 
With  mournful  looks  shall  view  th'  azure  sky. 
The  tender  tear  still  trembling  in  her  eye, 
And  as  she  sighs,  a  vow  to  heav'n  shall  send, 
*  Peace  to  my  guide,  my  father,  and  my  friend.' " 

Chanteloup,  Piebre,  a  very  worthy  French  ecclesiastic. 
In  the  historical  part  I  have  mentioned  his  acceptance  of 
the  incumbency  of  Taunton  in  1830 ;  but  at  the  end  of  three 
years  he  retired  from  all  pastoral  duty  to  prepare  himself 
for  eternity,  into  which  he  very  suddenly  entered,  a  few 
months  later,  in  his  native  country.  He  left  the  English 
mission  early  in  November,  1833;  but  I  cannot  ascertain 
precisely  the  date  of  his  death. 

Cheadsey,  William. — ^This  eminent  theologian  reflected 
honour  on  his  native  county,  Somerset,  and  on  Exeter  Cathe- 
dral, in  which  Dr.  James  TurberviUe,  our  last  Catholic  bishop, 
collated  him  3rd  December,  1556,  to  the  canonry  and  prebend, 
void  by  the  death  of  Dr.  James  Haddon. — (See  his  Lordship's 
Register,  fol.  13.)  Though,  in  his  disputations  with  the  lead- 
ing Reformers,  he  had  signalized  himself  by  a  zeal  according 
to  knowledge,  with  temper  and  golden  moderation,  the  vin- 
dictive  spirit  of  Elizabeth,  at  her  accession,  fastened  upon 
him,  stripped  him  of  all  his  preferments,  and  consigned  him 
to  the  Fleet  Prison,  where  he  breathed  his  last  in  1571. — 
(See  Dodd's  Ch.  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  509.) 

Church,  Edward,  S.J.,  bom  at  St.  Columb  Major's, 
Cornwall,  on  15th  November,  1728,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
was  admitted  a  novice  of  the  order,  and  on  2nd  February, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST   OF   THE   CLEEGY.  268 

1766,  one  of  its  professed  fathers.  For  at  least  half  a  oen« 
tury  he  was  employed  in  missionary  duty  at  Salisbury,  at 
Lullworth,  &c. ;  but  his  earthly  course  ran  out  at  Rixton, 
near  Warrington,  on  22nd  January,  1820,  aet.  ninety-two. 
His  remains  were  deposited  in  a  vault  outside  St.  Joseph's 
Chapel,  Bedford  Leigh. 

Clarke,  John,  was  educated  at  Prior-park,  and  ordained 
priest  at  Clifton  by  Archbishop  Errington,  on  Low  Sunday, 
80th  March,  1856. 

Clarkson,  George,  S. J.,  bom  at  Slatedelft,  alias  Southill, 
near  Chorley,  4th  May,  1738.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was 
admitted  into  the  Society.  For  some  time  before  the  suppres- 
sion of  his  order,  he  resided,  as  I  was  informed  by  one  that 
knew  him,  at  Leighland,  near  Cleeve;'^  thence  was  removed 
to  Stapehill,  finsdly  settled  in  his  native  place,  where  he 
created  a  considerable  mission,  and  erected  the  present  chapel 
and  presbytfere  about  the  year  1793.  Worn  out  with  labour 
and  years,  this  man  of  God  gently  expired  5th  November, 
1813. 

Cliffords  of  Ugbrooke,  and  first — 

Clifford,  Edward  Charles  (Augustin),  O.S.B.,  fifth  son 
of  Charles  Lord  Clifford,  the  sixth  baron  of  Chudleigh — 
'^  PrEedaro  nomine  dignus,'* — was  bom  5th  February,  1803, 
professed  at  Ampleforth  9th  October,  1823,  ordained  priest 
there  by  Bishop  Smith  20th  January,  1827,  and  said  his 
first  Mass  three  days  later  :  soon  after — perhaps  too  soon — 
he  was  despatched  to  the  Bungay  mission,  thence  removed  to 
Netherton,  near  Liverpool,  which  he  quitted  to  go  to  the 
Mauritius  on  16th  October,  1832.  He  died  at  Mahebourg 
station  there  22nd  October,  1843,  and  was  buried  three 
days  later. 

Clifford,  Walter  Charles,  S.J.,  sixth  son  of  the  last- 
mentioned  nobleman,  was  bom  at  Ugbrooke  26th  April, 
1804.  After  finishing  his  course  of  humanities  at  Stony- 
hurst,  he  entered  St.  Andrew's  novitiate  at  Rome,  November, 
1823.  Betuming  to  Stonyhurst,  this  amiable  religious 
defended,  on  4th  July,  1832,  the  whole  theological  course 
with  distinguished  credit.  On  19th  September  following  he 
was  ordained  subdeacon  in  the  college  church  by  Bishop 
Penswick,  deacon  on  the  foUowing  day,  and  priest  on  22nd 
of  the  same  month  and  year.     He  was  then  appointed  Pro- 

*  "  Capella  B.  MarieB  de  Clyve,  Bathon  et  Welleus.  Dioc.  super  ripas 
maris  ab  antiqao  posits,"  occurs  12th  December,  1308,  in  Stafford's 
Roister,  vol.  i.  p.  23. 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THB    CLERGT. 

feasor  of  Logic  and  Metaphysics ;  on  9th  September^  1835^ 
his  services  were  required  for  the  Preston  mission;  but 
before  the  termination  of  three  years,  on  20th  July,  1888, 
he  was  transferred  to  Wardour  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  James 
Laurenson.  Yet  his  heart  yearned  for  the  salvation  of  souls 
in  foreign  countries,  and  the  superiors  consented  to  gratify 
his  zealous  wishes.  On  28th  February^  1841,  he  sailed  for 
Madura,  in  the  diocese  of  Pondicherry.  Here  an  extensive 
field  was  opened  for  his  ministerial  exertions ;  but,  alas  !  in 
the  midst  of  his  spiritual  conquests, — in  the  very  height  of 
his  usefulness,  he  was  unfortunately  drowned  in  the  river 
Cavery,  uuder  the  fortress  of  Triclunopoly,  on  22nd  May, 
1844. 

Clifford,  William  Joseph  Hugh,  D.D.,  nephew  to  the 
two  last,  being  the  second  surviving  son  of  their  eldest  bro- 
ther, Hugh  Charles,  seventh  Baron  Clifford,  of  Chudleigh, 
was  bom  at  Irnham  on  Christmas-eve,  1823.  After  studying 
for  a  time  at  Hodder-place,  near  Stonyhurst,  Prior-park,  and 
subsequently  in  the  CoUege  of  Nobles  at  Rome,  he  delivered 
a  Latin  panegyric,  in  honour  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  in 
the  Templo  Liberiano,  on  15th  August,  1840,  before  Pope 
Gregory  XYI.  Eventually  he  was  ordained  sub-deacon  at 
Bruges  on  2nd  July,  1849,  and  deacon  on  26th  July  same 
year.  His  promotion  to  the  priesthood  was  accomplished  at 
Clifton,  in  the  Church  of  the  Twelve  Apostles,  by  Bishop 
Hendren,  on  25th  August,  1850.  To  the  service  of  that  church 
he  remained  attached  until  the  16th  September  of  the  follow- 
ing year,  when  he  started  for  Rome,  but  soon  returned  a 
D.D.  to  assist  Dr.  Errington,  the  recently-consecrated  bishop 
of  Plymouth^  as  secretary  and  parish  priest  of  St.  Mary's^ 
Stonehouse.  His  lordship  took  him  with  him  to  the  first 
provincial  council  held  at  Oscott  in  July,  1852,  where  Dr, 
Clifford  was  appointed  one  of  its  three  secretaries.  When 
the  Plymouth  chapter  was  formed  late  in  1853,  Dr.  Clifford 
was  installed  canon,  theologian,  and  secretary  on  6th  Decem- 
ber that  year;  he  kindly  consented,  also,  to  act  as  treasurer  of 
the  chapter,  and  was  the  generous  donor  of  their  official  seal, 
from  a  design  of  Charles  Weld,  of  Chidiock,  Esq.  When 
Dr.  Errington  was  advanced  by  the  brief  of  Pope  Pius  IX., 
bearing  date  30th  March,  1855,  from  Plymouth,  to  the 
archiepiscopal  see  of  Trebizonde,  with  the  permission  of 
not  residing  there  whilst  it  remained  in  the  hands  of  the 
infidels,  but  of  abiding  in  England  as  coadjutor  to  Cardinal 
Wiseman,  Archbishop  of  Westminster,  Dr.  Clifford  was  elected 
by  the  Plymouth  Chapter,  on  10th  May,  Vicar  Capitular 


BIOO&AFHICAL  LIST  OF   THE   CLEROT.  265 

during  the  vacancy  of  the  see.  In  that  capacity  he  assisted 
at  the  second  Frovincia]  Council^  holden  at  Oscott  two  months 
later.  And  when  the  brief  of  the  above-named  Pope^  dated 
10th  July,  1855,  appointed  Dr.  Yaughan  to  the  see  of  Ply- 
mouth, his  lordship  wisely  selected  Dr.  Clifford  to  continue 
his  Grand  Vicar  until  his  own  consecration  at  Clifton  on 
16th,  and  his  installation  at  Plymouth  on  25th  September, 
1855.  Dr.  Clifford  was  afterwards  permitted  to  repair  to 
Rome  to  finish  a  course  of  canon  law.  If  it  shall  please  God 
to  re-establish  his  health,  which  has  been  impaired  by  over-i 
exertion,  it  is  easy  to  foresee  that  Dr.  Clifford  must  become 
a  prominent  character  in  our  English  Catholic  Church. 
Quod  faxit  Deus,  O.  M. !  * 

Clifton,  Fbancis,  S.  J.,  bom  in  London  of  Irish  parents, 
6th  November,  1742,  joined  the  order  in  the  twentieth  year 
of  his  age,  and  for  a  lengthened  period  was  director  to  the 
English  Sepulchral  Nuns  at  Liege.  After  their  emigration, 
he  accompanied  them.  At  Dean's  House,  about  nine  miles 
from  Salisbury,  he  served  them  from  1796  to  1799,  Obiit 
23rd  May,  1812.— (See  First  Part,  p.  156.) 

Clinton,  Alexander,  S.  J.,  whose  real  name  was  McKen- 
zie,  was  bom  in  Scotland  23rd  March,  1730.  In  1756,  after 
seven  years'  training  in  the  Society  of  Jesus,  he  was  ordered 
to  the  London  mission,  where  he  signalized  himself  by  ener- 
getic zeal  and  glowing  charity  to  the  poor,  but  especially  to 
the  Catholic  prisoners  in  the  metropolis.  He  was  the  encou- 
rager  of  merit  and  genius  wherever  he  saw  it,  and  to  his 
recommendation  Dr.  Archer  owed  his  admission  into  Douay 
College.  The  late  Thomas  Weld,  of  Lull  worth  Castle,  charmed 
with  his  active  zeal  and  cheerftd  piety,  engaged  him  for  his 
chaplain  in  1781,  and  for  about  fourteen  years  he  resided  in 
that  capacity.  The  venerable  man  then  retired  from  mis- 
sionary duty,  paid  a  visit  to  Stonyhurst,  and  passed  over 
to  Ireland,  where  his  lamp  of  life  went  out  on  5th  June, 
1800.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  the  saintly  Bishop 
Challoner,  to  whom  he  dedicated  his  treatise  on  Holy  Com* 
munion,  in  1780. 

Clossette,  Joseph,  S.J. — ^Though  born  in  Flanders,  he 
was  educated  entirely  amongst  the  English  Jesuits.  Soon 
after  his  ordination,  he  was  ordered  to  Wardour  to  supply 

*  The  doctor's  youngest  brother,  Walter  Charles  Ignatius  Clifford,  an 
eight  months*  child,  was  bom  at  Rome  5th  December,  1830.  Cardinal 
Odescalchi  stood  his  godfather.  After  finishing  his  humanities  at 
Stonyhurst,  he  commenced  his  noYiceship  in  S.  J.  on  28th  June,  1848, 
and  pronounced  his  soholasiic  rows  on  29th  Jane,  1860. 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE    CLBSGT. 

in  the  absence  of  F.  Forrester^  who  had  accompanied  Lord 
and  Lady  Arundell  and  family  to  the  Continent ;  but,  melan- 
choly to  relate,  he  was  killed  within  a  month  after  his  arrival 
by  being  thrown  off  his  horse  at  Ludwell.  This  unfortunate 
event  occurred  on  23rd  October,  1781 :  set.  thirty. 

Clouoh,  James,  S.J.,  bom  in  Liverpool,  11th  January, 
1803;  entered  the  order  27th  September,  1827,  on  his 
promotion  to  priesthood  at  Yarmouth,  where  he  laboured 
with  exemplary  zeal;  but  on  30th  September,  1831,  was 
transferred  to  Pilewell,  vice  F.  Charles  Waterton.  In  1844 
he  was  called  to  Stonyhurst — thence  sent  to  Croft,  and  again 
to  Pilewell.  As  a  last  resource  he  was  placed  under  the  care 
of  F.  Laurenson,  at  Wardour;  but  there  he  sunk,  within 
four  months,  from  exhaustion  of  physical  strength,  on  8rd 
November,  1848. 

CocHET,  Alexander,  an  excellent  French  priest,  who  did 
duty  for  several  years  at  Shapehill  before  he  left  for  Sopley 
in  1811.  I  think  he  returned  to  France  after  the  restoration 
of  the  Bourbons. 

Coffin,  Edward,  S.J.,  a  native  of  Exeter;  entered  an 
alumnus  of  the  English  College  at  Rome  in  1588,  and  ten 
years  later,  whilst  engaged  as  a  missionary  in  England,  enlisted 
under  the  banner  of  St.  Ignatius.  His  zealous  exertions 
procured  for  him  the  honour  of  becoming  the  ''  Vinctus 
Christi''  (See  the  Archseologia,  xiii.  p.  84).  From  the  Tower 
of  London  he  was  removed  to  Framlingham  Castle;  but 
shortly  after  the  accession  of  King  James  L,  imprisonment 
was  commuted  into  perpetual  banishment.  Proceeding  to 
Rome,  he  filled  the  office  of  confessor  in  the  English  College 
for  nearly  twenty  years.  On  10th  September,  1625,  he 
quitted  the  eternal  city  for  the  purpose  of  revisiting  his 
native  country ;  but  fell  ill  at  St.  Omer's,  and  there  expired 
on  17th  April  following,  leaving  behind  him  the  reputation 
of  great  learning,  singular  discretion,  and  unaffected  piety. 
In  my  Collectanea  of  the  Jesuits,  p.  71, 1  have  enumerated 
his  publications. 

Coleridge,  Henrt  James,  is  a  son  of  the  able  judge 
of  the  Queen's  Bench — Sir  John  Taylor  Coleridge.  Whilst 
fellow  of  Oriel  College,  Oxford,  he  became  a  convert  to  the 
Catholic  faith.  Repairing  to  Rome,  he  was  ordained  priest 
at  St.  John  Lateran's,  7th  April,  1855. 

Colleton,  John,  alias  Smith,  bom  at  Milverton,  oo. 
Somerset.  This  influential  secular  priest  had  the  honour  of 
being  sent  to  the  Tower  of  London,  on  22nd  July,  1581,  for 


BIOOBAFHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLEBQY.  267 

his  constancy  in  upholding  the  Catholic  faith.  It  is  to  be 
regretted,  that  in  the  subsequent  affair  of  the  archpriest  he 
conducted  himself  with  unbecoming  warmth ;  insomuch,  that 
I  read  in  a  letter  of  Archpriest  Blackwell,  dated  12th  May, 
1599,  ''  The  man  knoweth  not  himself  Episcopacy  was 
restored  in  the  person  of  Dr.  William  Bishop,^  who  was  con- 
secrated at  Paris,  on  4th  June,  1623,  by  the  title  of  Epis- 
copus  Chalcedonensis,  in  virtue  of  the  Bull  of  Pope  Gregory 
XY.,  dated  15th  March,  1622;  but  as  Dr.  Lingard  justly 
observes,  his  Holiness  "  made  him  revocable  at  pleasure.^' 
(History  of  England,  vol.  vii.  p.  552,  also  the  Very  Ilev.  Canon 
Tiemey's  valuable  Note,  Dodd,  vol.  iv..  Appendix,  cdxxxv.) 
His  lordship  reached  Dover  on  21st  July,  1623,  but  to  the 
regret  of  the  faithful,  died  on  13th  April  following,  8et.  seventy, 
one.  However,  on  the  previous  10th  September  the  new 
bishop  had  installed  his  chapter,  of  which  the  Rev.  John 
Colleton  was  the  dean,  who  survived  till  29th  October,  1635, 
«t.  eighty-seven.  (See  Sergeant's  "  Account  of  the  English 
Chapter/'  by  Tumbull :  Dolman,  1853.)  In  considering  the 
acrimonious  feelings  and  disputations  of  this  period  of  our 
English  Catholic  history,  I  often  think  of  the  exhortation  of 
Pope  Leo  X.,  in  constitution  23,  §  23,  wherein  he  caUs  upon  all 
Prelates,  by  the  bowels  of  Qod's  mercy,  to  treat  and  cherish 
the  regular  clergy,  as  fellow- labourers,  with  benevolent  affec- 
tion— to  exhibit  themselves  towards  them  "  faciles,  mites, 
propitios,  pi&que  munificenti&  liberales,''  and  to  maintain  and 
vindicate  their  rights  and  privileges ;  so  that  both  bishops 
and  regulars,  "  quorum  opera,  veluti  lucemse  ardentes  supra 
montem  positae,  omnibus  Christi  fidelibus  lumen  prsebere 
debent,  ad  Dei  laudem,  Fidei  Catholicse  exaltationem,  popu- 
lorumque  salutem,  de  virtute  in  virtutes  proficiant." 

CoLLiNGBiDOB  (Bernardine),  Peter,  O.S.F.,  bom  in 
Oxfordshire,  10th  March,  1757.  In  early  life,  as  he  after- 
wards acknowledged  to  friends,  his  vocation  balanced  for  a 
time  between  adopting  the  institute  of  St.  Ignatius  and  the 

*  Thomas  Watson,  the  last  of  Qneen  Mary's  Catholic  bi8hoi)8y  died  a 
prisoner  at  Wisbech  on  27th  September,  1584.  The  Holy  See  judged  it 
unsuitable  to  the  circumstances  of  the  persecuting  times  to  send  over  a 
person  of  the  episcopal  order ;  and,  ad  ifOerim^  an  archpriest,  with 
twelve  assistants,  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  secular  clergy.  The 
first  was  the  Rev.  George  Black  well,  who  was  appointed  7th  March, 
1598,  and  remained  in  office  for  ten  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  George  Birkett  in  1608,  who  died  in  office  in  1614.  The  third  was 
William  Harrison,  admitted  11th  July,  1615.  and  retained  his  rank 
until  the  restoration  of  episcopacy  in  1623.  The  regulars  were  allowed 
to  retain  their  former  privileges  by  the  briefs  of  Fope  Urban  VIII., 
"*  Britannia;'  dth  May,  1631,  and  ^'PlankOa;'  12th  July,  1633. 


268  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEBOY. 

rale  of  St.  Francis ;  but  at  length  he  decided  on  taking  the 
habit  fix>m  the  hands  of  F.  Peter  Frost,  who  was  elected  the 
Franciscan  guardian  of  St.  Bonaventure's,  at  Douay,  16th 
July,  1770.  Nine  years  later  I  find  him  appointed  to  teach 
philosophy  to  his  brethren — an  ofSce  which  he  filled  with 
credit  till  5th  August,  1785,  when  he  was  made  Lector  of 
Divinity.  The  chapter-books  show  that  he  was  elected 
guardian  of  that  convent  on  27th  August,  1788.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  term  of  his  triennial  government,  he  was 
nominated  president  of  the  Franciscan  Academy  at  Bad- 
desley,  near  Birmingham ;  thence  his  services  were  required 
at  the  Portuguese  Chapel,  in  London,  vice  F.  William  Pilling, 
O.S.F. ;  but  soon  after  he  was  made  assistant  to  the 
Rev.  John  Griffiths,  of  St.  George's  Fields.  In  1806  he 
was  elected  provincial  of  his  brethren.  In  the  following 
year  Bishop  Sharrock,  V.A.  of  the  Western  District,  secured 
him  for  his  coadjutor,  and  he  was  consecrated  at  St.  Edmund's 
College  on  11th  October,  1807,  as  bishop  of  Thespise.  For 
a  time  this  learned  and  saintly  doctor  resided  at  Chepstow, 
at  Taunton,  at  Clifton,  at  iSrenchard  St.  Chapel  House, 
Bristol,  but  finally  at  Cannington,  where  he  died  suddenly 
on  8rd  March,  1829,  and  was  there  buried  on  the  10th,  his 
seventy-second  birthday.  A  more  zealous,  disinterested,  and 
unostentious  prelate  could  not  exist. 

CoLLTNs,  Charles  Hbnrt,  S.J.,  bom  in  Exeter  13th  Sep- 
tember, 1820,  whilst  his  father.  Rev.  Dr.  Colly ns,  was  master 
of  St.  John's  Free  Grammar  School  (he  had  been  elected  to 
the  office  27th  January,  1819;  resigned  at  Christmas,  1835) ; 
after  an  education  under  his  father,  he  entered  Christ  Church 
College,  Oxford,  at  Michaelmas  term,  1837,  proceeded 
B.A.  in  1841,  and  M.A.  in  1844,  after  receiving  orders  in 
the  Established  Church  during  the  preceding  autumn.  The 
Church  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene,  Oxford,  was  the  scene  of  his 
ministrations.  But  in  the  words  of  Ecclesiasticus,  xi.  13, 
''Oculus  Dei  respexit  ilium  in  bono,^^  his  upright  heart 
Ustened  to  the  inspirations  of  grace ;  and  his  docility  was 
rewarded  with  the  gift  of  faith,  which  he  lovingly  embraced 
on  the  feast  of  All  Saints,  1845,  at  Prior-park.  A  year 
later,  on  13th  November,  1846,  he  entered  the  Novitiate, 
S.J.^  and  at  the  end  of  his  probation  applied  himself  to  a 
complete  course  of  theology  at  St.  Beuno^s.  He  had  been 
promoted  to  priesthood  in  the  Ember-week  of  September, 
1851.  The  year  following  witnessed  his  appointment  as  the 
first  missioner  of  St.  Oswald^s,  Accrington,  which  he  served 


BIOOKAFHICAL   U8T  OF  THE   CLERGY.  269 

nearly  a  twelTemouth,  when,  in  September,  1858,  his  senrioes 
were  transferred  to  Liverpool. 

CoLUMB,  John,  S.J. — I  collect  from  F.  Morels  History, 
page  21,  that  this  native  of  Devon  joined  the  Society  at 
Louvain  in  the  26th  year  of  his  age ;  that  he  was  received  as 
confessor  in  the  English  College  of  Douay ;  and  that  he  died 
in  1588,  after  passing  ten  years  in  the  order.  Dodd  seems 
not  to  have  been  aware  of  him. 

CoMPTON,  Philip,  bom  in  the  neighbourhood  of  WeUs 
in  1734,  was  educated  at  Douay  College,  served  Chidiock 
twenty-five  years,  and  Calverleigh  for  about  six  years. 
Retiring  then  to  Dunster,  he  finished  his  course  on  23rd 
July,  1803.  He  excelled  chiefly  in  cabinet-work,  dialling, 
and  mechanical  science. 

Connor,  Maurice,  bom  at  KiUarney  in  Febmary,  1791, 
was  educated  at  Maynooth.  On  8th  March,  1823,  Bishop 
CoUingridge  appointed  him  confessor  to  the  Theresians 
at  Lanheme,  and  pastor  to  the  faithful  aroimd;  but  he 
quitted  that  post  for  the  Salisbury  mission,  on  3l8t  October, 
1826.  Early  in  1831  he  was  transferred  to  Falmouth; 
but  at  the  end  of  a  twelvemonth  he  was  off  to  Swansea.  In 
July,  1833,  he  reached  Tawstock,  which  he  quitted  abruptly 
in  May,  1835.  He  then  made  an  experiment  of  the  Trap- 
pists'  l^e,  and  this  not  suiting,  he  left  for  the  Trinidad 
mission,  where  a  fever  put  an  end  to  his  erratic  life  in 
December,  1840. 

CoNYBRs,  Thomas,  S.J. — It  is  evident  from  the  Provincial 
Catalogues,  that  he  was  employed,  in  1746,  in  the  residence 
of  St.  Stanislaus,  which  included  Devon  and  Comwall ;  but 
I  cannot  ascertain  the  length  of  his  service,  nor  even  the 
precise  locality.  He  was  bom  in  London  the  last  day  of  the 
jeBX  1715.  His  missionary  career  terminated,  with  his  life, 
m  Lancashire,  on  20th  April,  1780.     Soc.  forty-four. 

Cooke,  Charles,  bom  in  Yorkshire  in  1806.  —  After 
studying  well  at  Ushaw,  he  was  promoted  to  priesthood  at 
Prior-park  in  1834,  and  on  28th  March,  1835,  was  placed  at 
Salisbury.  Here  he  continued  for  five  years.  In  the  middle 
of  July,  1840,  he  was  sent  to  Lanheme,  which  he  quitted 
abmptly  on  6th  June,  1844.  Thence  he  removed  to  Prior- 
park  ;  but  after  some  months'  stay,  accepted  the  Uttoxeter 
mission,  which  he  soon  abandoned.  In  the  charity  of  his 
reverend  firiend  F.  McDonnell,  he  found  a  protection  at 
Gloucester;   and    when    that    experienced    missionary  was 


270  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERQT. 

appointed  to  the  charge  of  the  Stonehouse  congregation  bjr 
Bishop  Hendren^  he  proposed  to  take  Mr.  Cooke  with  him  as 
an  assistant  in  July^  1850 ;  here  much  work  was  to  be  done^ 
and  under  the  auspices  and  inspection  of  such  a  veteran^ 
Mr.  Cooke  did  his  part  con  amore.  But  when  that  fatherly 
guide  quitted  the  new  diocese  of  Plymouth  for  that  of 
Clifton^  and  was  stationed  at  Shortwood^  then  Bishop 
Errington  removed  Mr.  Cooke  to  the  pastoral  charge  of 
Axminster.  Oh  I  that  his  lordship  could  have  retained  him 
under  his  immediate  presence ;  for  the  truth  must  be  told^ 
he  was  unfit  to  be  his  own  master^  and  to  be  trusted  alone. 
Instead  of  becoming  his  own  enemy^  he  might  have  proved 
an  ornament  to  religion,  if  he  could  have  been  employed  in 
a  college,  or  in  a  monastery,  where  he  might  have  been  safe 
from  the  temptation  to  intemperance,  which  is  almost  an 
incurable  and  incorrigible  vice.*  Within  seven  months  he 
had  to  surrender  his  charge  of  Axminster  into  the  bishop's 
hands,  and  we  had  all  to  lament  that  a  mind  so  intellectual, 
a  heart  so  kind  and  generous,  a  constitution  naturally  so 
robust,  should  become  utterly  useless  in  the  service  of  our 
holy  Church.  The  grace  of  God  led  him  to  enter  into 
himself  like  the  prodigal,  and  to  throw  himself  on  the  cha- 
ritable protection  of  his  former  reverend  friend.  His 
reception  at  Shortwood  was  worthy  of  so  good  a  father. 
For  a  time  he  conducted  himself  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
patient  sentinel ;  but  in  November,  1852,  there  was  a  fresh 
outbreak.  Notwithstanding  this,  P.  M'Donnell  consented 
to  give  him  another  trial,  and  the  poor  penitent  seemed  to 
be  perfectly  conscious  of  his  misery  and  degradation  of 
character.  In  the  temporary  absence  of  his  friend,  the 
passion  for  liquor  returned ;  and  he  made  his  escape  alto- 
gether on  21st  July,  1853.  After  wandering  about  the 
country,  he  reached  St.  Bernard's  Abbey  on  3rd  of  August. 
The  next  day  the  worthy  abbot  signified  his  arrival,  and 
described  him  "as  being  in  a  very  deplorable  state, — his 
health  and  spirits  broken  down.     It  is  providential  that  he 

*  This  was  the  opinion  of  Monseigneur  La  Motte,  the  venerable 
bishop  of  Amiens.  In  the  Memoirs  of  the  prelate  by  I'Abb^  Proyart, 
▼ol.  i.  p.  198,  the  writer  states  that  his  lordship  related  a  frightful  anec- 
dote in  confirmation  of  his  opinion ;  vk.,  of  a  prient  of  his  diocese,  who 
for  habitual  excesses  of  this  kind  had  been  placed  in  confinement.  In 
this  state,  after  having  given  proofs  of  steady  sobrietv  during  fifteen 
years  and  more,  no  sooner  was  ne  restored  to  perfect  liberty,  than  that 
very  night  he  indulged  in  liquor  to  such  an  excess,  as  to  be  found  dead 
in  the  public-house  the  next  morning.   How  sage  the  advice  of  Ovid :— 

**  Principiis  obsta :  sero  medicina  paratnr, 
Cum  mala  per  longas  invaluere  moras." 


BtOORAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLEROT.  271 

reached  this  alive^ — ^without  a  penny,  or  as  ranch  as  a  change 
of  linen,  or  clothes  of  any  kind.  He  promises  to  be  quite  a 
different  man,  and  from  henceforth  to  attend  in  right  earnest 
to  the  one  thhig  necessary.     God  grant  it  I  ** 

But  he  soon  grew  weary  of  the  Trappists'  regular  diet, 
and,  leaving  St.  Bemard^s,  relapsed  into  his  former  habit. 
After  rambling  over  the  country,  it  was  at  last  discovered 
that  he  had  reached  Nottingham.  Nature  could  hold  out  no 
longer,  and  he  sunk  into  the  sleep  of  death  on  17th  August, 
1854,  about  seven  o'clock  p.m. 

'^  Deus  sit  propitius  huic  potatori.^'  And  may  his  example 
serve  as  an  awful  warning  to  us  all  1     Amen. 

CooMBEs,  William,  bom  at  Meadgate,  in  Camerton 
parish,  co.  Somerset,  on  4th  August,  1743,  for  many  years 
shone  as  one  of  the  brightest  jewels  of  Douay  College, 
which  he  finally  qtdtted  in  1777.  He  was  never  attached  to 
any  mission;  but  during  a  long  period  was  the  respected 
Grand  Vicar  of  the  Western  District.  Whilst  residing  on 
his  property  at  Meadgate,  with  his  sister  and  niece,  he 
received  intelligence  that  the  rioters  of  Bath,  who  had  just 
destroyed  the  Catholic  chapel  there,  in  June,  1780,  were 
advancing  in  great  force  towards  Meadgate:  he  hastened 
for  protection  towards  the  parsonage-house  of  the  Bev. 
J.  Brooke,*  the  liberal  rector  of  Hinton  Bluett.  This  worthy 
gentleman,  who,  under  the  apprehension  that  his  own  house 
would  be  attacked  by  the  ftirious  mob,  on  the  ground  of 
his  wife  being  a  Catholic,  had  sent  off  his  plate  and  valu- 
ables to  a  trusty  cottager's  care,  and  removed  elsewhere  his 
best  furniture,  advised  Mr.  Coombes  to  conceal  himself  in 
Tucker's  Wood,  distant  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  there 
to  remain  until  he  should  hear  him  whistle  for  him.  Mr. 
Coombes  felt  the  prudence  of  his  friend's  admonition,  and 
there  lay  concealed  for  the  remainder  of  the  day.  At  length 
the  rector  received  the  satisfactory  tidinga  that  a  strong 
military  detachment  had  arrested  the  advance  of  the  rioters, 
and  dispersed  them  without  effecting  their  intended  mischief. 
In  the  evening  the  rector  repaired  to  the  wood,  and,  on 

*  This  reyerend  fi;enUeman  had  married  Ann  James,  a  Catholic,  and 
was  known  to  he  favourahlv  disposed  towards  her  religion,  which  he 
subseanently  embraced.  He  sold  the  advowson  of  his  rectory,  and 
proved  himself  a  benefactor  to  the  Shortwood  mission.  Ob.  1824,  at 
West-house,  near  his  old  parsonage.  During  these  Gordon  riots,  such 
was  the  fear  of  the  fanatical  mob.  that  it  was  thought  expedient  to  take 
down  the  cross  from  the  parish  church,  to  prevent  the  edifice  itself  from 
being  demolished. 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF    THE   CLBROY. 

giying  the  preconcerted  signal^  Mr.  Coombe  emerged  from 
his  hiding-place. 

Thirty  years  after  this  event,  I  remember  to  have  had  the 
happiness  of  meeting  this  venerable  man  at  Sbepton  Mallett. 
He  died  at  Bath,  on  18th  April,  1822,  set.  seventy-nine,  and 
was  buried  in  the  vault  of  St.  John's  Chapel  there. 

CooMBEs,  William  Henkt,  D.D.,  nephew  to  the  last- 
mentioned,  was  bom,  as  he  informed  me,  at  Meadgate,  on 
8th  May,  1767.  In  this  family  abode  had  been  a  chapel ; 
but  for  several  years  the  house  had  been  converted  into  an 
inn.  At  the  age  of  twelve  William  was  sent  to  Douay 
College,  where  he  arrived,  with  his  neighbour  Joseph  Hunt, 
on  11th  July,  1779.  Here  the  youth  gave  promise  of  what 
the  man  would  be, — amiable,  docile,  devout,  and  very 
studious, — eager  to  improve  and  enlarge  his  mind.  In  the 
Ember  Week  of  Advent,  1791,  he  was  promoted  to  priest- 
hood, the  jubilee  of  which  the  dear  old  man  celebrated  so 
becomingly  at  Shepton  Mallett,  as  many  can  remember. 
Whilst  teaching  rhetoric  at  Douay,  the  French  Revolution 
broke  out,  and  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety,  as  it  was 
called,  as  an  earnest  of  theur  regard  for  liberty,  justice, 
•  equality,  and  fraternization,  decreed,  on  10th  October,  1798, 
that  ''All  subjects  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  then  in  France 
must  forfeit  their  property,  as  well  as  personal  freedom.'' 
Our  young  professor,  little  fancying  such  prospects,  stole 
away  from  the  town,  and  reached  the  skirts  of  the  village 
of  Escherquin,  a  distance  of  three  miles  from  Douay,  in 
which  was  the  college  country-house,  when  a  stranger 
accosted  him,  and  inquired  if  he  had  no  apprehension  in 
appearing  so  publicly  at  such  a  critical  moment.  His 
manner  was  prepossessing  in  his  favour,  and  inspired  confi- 
dence ;  and  on  hearing  Mr.  Coombes's  wish  to  escape,  the 
stranger  advised  him  to  address  himself  at  once  to  the  mayor 
for  a  passport,  thence  to  proceed  to  Mons,  within  reach 
of  the  allied  armies ;  and,  in  order  to  disguise  his  project, 
made  him  the  bearer  of  a  large  commission  for  coals.  De- 
lighted with  the  proposal,  he  hurried  to  the  village,  went 
direct  to  the  country-house,  and  began  to  make  arrange- 
ments to  start  at  four  the  next  morning.  But  man  proposes, 
and  it  is  Grod  who  disposes;  for  behold,  about  six  o'clock 
the  same  evening,  who  should  make  his  appearance  in  the 
court  of  the  college  country-house,  but  the  mayor  himself! 
The  commissary  of  the  district  joined  his  worship  shortly 
after,  announcing  that  the  premises  were  now  surrounded  by 
forty  armed  men.     Submitting  patiently  to  this  disappoint- 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE    CLBBOT.  273 

ment  of  his  hopes^  he  was  escorted  to  Douay  early  the  next 
morning,  and  consigned  to  the  new  prison^  recently  the 
Scotch  College.  On  the  fourth  day  of  his  confinement 
orders  arrived  to  convey  the  prisoners  in  waggons  to  the 
citadel  of  Dourlens,  in  Picardy.  That  same  evening,  whilst 
passing  through  the  village  of  St.  Laurent,  near  Airas,  our 
reverend  lover  of  personal  freedom  slipped  from  his  waggon, 
unperceived  by  his  guards,  and  got  into  a  cottage.  Wheu 
the  train  had  passed  on^  he  quitted  this  asylum,  and  after 
perilous  rambling,  from  shortness  of  sight,  early  on  the 
17th  reached  a  friendly  house,  but  where,  to  prevent  all 
danger  of  discovery,  it  was  necessary  to  remain  in  a  retired 
apartment,  from  which  the  daylight  was  excluded.  Such  was 
his  distress  in  this  particular,  that  he  was  obliged  to  place 
himself  in  the  chimney  in  order  to  gain  light  to  recite  his 
Breviary.  Late  that  evening,  he  had  the  comfort  of  meeting 
his  reverend  fellow-collegians,  Messrs.  Devereux  and  Rickaby, 
who  had  also  eluded  the  vigilance  of  their  guards.  This  union 
of  numbers,  whilst  it  animated  them  with  more  courage, 
perhaps  added  to  the  danger  of  discovery ;  but  after  excessive 
fatigue,  and  many  hair-breadth  escapes,  they  reached  the 
Austrian  lines,  about  four  o'clock  a.m.,  20th  of  October, 
1793;  surrendered  themselves  to  the  patrols  at  Contiches,  by 
whom  they  were  conducted  to  General  Kray  at  Orchies, 
who  treated  them  with  civility,  and  gave  them  a  guide 
to  Toumay. 

On  reaching  England  he  learnt  that  Bishop  Douglass,  the 
zealous  Vicar- Apostolic  of  London,  was  actively  engaged  in 
preparing  Old  Hall  Green  Academy  for  his  episcopal  semi- 
nary (see  the  History  of  St.  Edmund's  College  in  ^'  Catholic 
Miscellany,''  1826-29),  and  his  lordship  solicit^  Mr.  Coombes' 
valuable  co-operation.  He  most  cheerfuUv  acquiesced ;  and 
after  some  time  was  appointed  Professor  of  Divinity.  Many 
of  our  dignified  clergy  have  taken  their  seat  at  the  feet  of 
this  Gamaliel.  On  12th  December,  1801,  Pope  Pius  VII. 
awarded  to  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  In  1810 
he  accepted  the  mission  of  Shepton  Mallett,  which  he  held 
for  thirty-nine  years,  during  twenty  of  which  he  had  the 
direction  of  the  convent  of  the  Visitation  Nuns  there,  and 
they  enjoyed  this  privilege  until  their  removal  to  Westbury, 
near  Bristol,  in  May,  1880. 

Dr.  Coombes  was  an  enlightened  spiritualist  and  a  self- 
denying  priest :  as  a  Greek  scholar  he  had  few  equals.  To 
this  liberal-minded  friend,  this  gifted  scholar  and  divine,  we 
are  indebted  for  the  following  publications : — 

1.  Sacred  Eloquence.    8vo.    London:  1798.    Pp.343. 

T 


274  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE    CLERGY. 

2.  Oration  on  Piu8  VI.    London :  1800.    Pp.  129. 
8.  Letters  of  certain  French  Bishops  to  Pius  VI.    Pp.  24. 
1800. 

4.  Letters  on  Catholic  Affairs^  under  the  Signature  of 
"  The  British  Ohserver,"  which  appeared  in  "  Cobbett's 
Register ''  in  the  years  1804,  1805,  and  1806. 

5.  Life  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  in  2  vols.  8yo.  Shepton 
MaUett:  1812. 

6.  Entertainments  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  with  an  addition 
of  some  Sacred  Poems.     Taunton :  1814.    Pp.  515. 

7.  Essence  of  Religious  Controversy.  8vo.  1827.    Pp.  416. 

8.  Letter  to  the  Duke  of  Wellington  on  certain  Clauses  in 
the  Belief  Bill.    London:  1829.    1^.8. 

9.  Life  of  Jane  Frances  Chantal,  from  original  Records. 
London:  2  vols.    8vo.    1830. 

Retiring  from  all  missionary  duty  on  12th  June,  1849,  the 
venerable  doctor  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  the 
dear  Benedictines  at  Downside,  who  studied  his  every  com- 
fort. There  he  slept  in  the  Lord  on  15th  November,  1850; 
and,  as  he  desired,  was  buried  in  their  cemetery.  His 
epitaph  is  as  follows  : — 

Orate  pro  anima 

Gul.  Hen.  Coombes,  S.  T.  P. 

Collegii  Angl.  Duaci  Sac. 

Glim  per  annos  fere  q^uadraj^inta 

Sheptonise  Missionarii. 

Obiit  in  Monasterio  S.  Gregorii  Magni 

de  Downside  die  16  Nov.  1860 

Mi.  84.    Sac.  59. 

CujuB  anioue  propitietur  Deus. 

Amen. 

Cooper  (Maurus),  Ralph,  O.S.B. — Of  this  discreet  and 
efficient  missionary,  I  have  treated  in  the  seventh  chapter  of 
the  first  part.  At  present  I  shall  only  say,  that  he  was  born 
in  the  parish  of  Walton  le  Dale,  Lancashire,  on  4th  April, 
1799;  educated  at  Ampleforth;  there  professed  in  1817, 
ordained  priest  at  Ushaw  in  1823,  and  that  I  am  under  a 
deep  sense  of  gratitude  to  him  for  furnishing  me  with  many 
particulars  in  these  my  humble  researches.  Long  may  the 
mission  of  Chipping  Sodbury  be  enlightened  by  his  experi- 
ence and  be  edified  by  his  exemplary  life  1 

Constable,  Robert,  S.J.,bom  at  Thirsk. — After  studying 
five  years  in  the  English  College  at  Rome,  he  was  permitted 
to  join  the  order,  and  in  due  time  was  numbered  amongst 
their  professed  fathers.     From  the  examination  of  his  register 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF  TRB   CLBBGY.  275 

at  Wardour^  he  seems  to  have  superintended  that  important 
mission  from  1744  to  1759,  when  he  was  summoned  to 
govern  the  novitiate  at  Watton.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Reeve, 
in  his  narrative  MS.  of  the  breaking  up  of  St.  Omer's 
College  on  9th  August,  1762,  relates  that  he,  being  charged 
with  escorting  the  firat  division  of  the  scholars,  reached 
Watton  that  evening,  and  that  "  its  rector,  F.  Robert  Con« 
stable,  received  us  with  all  the  feeling  and  tender  kindness 
of  a  father ;  for  he  was  a  good,  religious  man,  and  the  spirit 
of  God  was  in  him.''  Shortly  after  the  remo^  of  the  novi- 
tiate to  Ghent,  he  accepted  the  situation  of  chaplain  to  Lady 
Haggerston,  and  died  at  her  house  at  York,  3rd  February, 
1770. 

CoRco&AN,  James,  O.S.D.,  bom  at  Cashell  25th  July, 
1800;  ordained  at  Rome  10th  July,  1825;  arrived  at  Tre- 
lawny,  as  its  first  missionary,  12th  August,  1831 ;  removed 
to  FoUaton  1st  November,  1833,  which  he  quitted  on  3rd 
August,  1834,  to  accompany  Bishop  (now  Archbishop) 
Folding  to  Sydney.  There  this  zealous  religious  met  with 
a  premature  death  on  5th  September,  1837,  by  the  over- 
turning of  a  gig.  His  solemn  funeral  was  described  in  the 
"  Sydney  Gazette  '*  of  the  9th  September  of  that  year. 

CoKNELivs,  John,  S.J. — In  p.  37  of  the  first  part  I  had 
proposed  to  give  a  lengthened  memoir  of  this  very  illustrious 
champion  and  sufferer  for  the  faith  at  Dorchester  on  4th 
July,  1594;  but  after  the  admirable  narrative  of  Bishop 
Challoner,  and  some  additional  matter  related  in  p.  74  of  the 
Collectanea  S.J.,  it  would  be  superfluous.  See  also  the 
History  of  Father  More. 

CoRNPORTH,  Thomas. — This  apostolic  priest  long  resided 
at  Stour  Provost,  and  was  very  instrumental  in  creating  there 
a  fund  for  his  successors  in  that  mission,  which  usually 
passes  by  the  name  of  MarnhuU.  There  he  "  died  on  5th 
August,  1748,  on  Friday  evening,  about  8  o^clock,  aged 
seventy,"  as  I  found  in  the  memorandum  of  a  Prayer-book. 

CosTELLO,  Rbv.  Thomas,  D.D. — Thomas  Costello,  de- 
scended from  an  ancient  and  respectable  family,  of  which 
the  original  name  was  Nangle,  or  Nagle  (^'Hibernia  Domini- 
cana,"  p.  313),  was  born  in  the  county  of  Mayo,  on  2l8t 
December,  1769.  At  the  Irish  College  of  Bordeaux  he  went 
through  the  triennial  course  of  philosophy :  thence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Salamanca,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Divinity  on  Zlst  July,  1797.  His  diploma  of  D.D.  he 
had  kept  secret  from  the  world,  and  the  truth  came  only  to 

T  2 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLBBGY. 

light  after  his  death.  Eetnming  to  his  native  ooantry^  he 
was  appointed  to  Ejrrecourt  parish^  in  the  diocese  of  Clonfert, 
by  its  bishop^  his  uncle^  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Costello.*  Some 
business  having  called  Mr.  Costello  to  England  in  the  spring 
of  1821,  he  was  introduced  in  April  of  that  year  at  Bristol  to 
Dr.  Collingridge^  the  Vicar- Apostolic  of  the  Western  District. 
This  prelate  had  just  received  information  of  the  sudden 
death  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  Simon,  the  Catholic  incumbent 
at  Stonehouse,  and  well  knowing  the  importance  of  that 
place,  the  resort  of  so  many  foreigners,  and  the  station  of  so 
many  Irish  Catholics  in  the  military  and  naval  service,  he 
earnestly  requested  Mr.  Costello,  who  spoke  most  of  the  con* 
tinental  languages,  and  was  well  versed  in  Irish,  to  under- 
take the  vacant  charge.  With  reluctance,  his  diocesan 
consented  to  part  with  him ;  but  having  obtained  permission^ 
Mr.  Costello  forthwith  proceeded  to  Plymouth,  and  during 
thirteen  years  laboured  at  his  post  with  the  zeal  of  an 
apostle,  and  ingratiated  himself  amongst  all  classes  by  his 
gentlemanly  deportment  and  universal  benevolence.  At 
length,  finding  the  increasing  duties  of  the  place  too  fatiguing 
for  his  constitution,  he  solicited  his  removal  to  some  easier 
situation.  On  quitting  Pl^outh,  the  townspeople,  of  all 
denominations,  presented  him  with  a  piece  of  plate,  ''as  a 
token  of  respect  and  esteem.''  On  25th  May,  1834,  he  was 
transferred  to  Cannington ;  thence  he  was  moved  to  Calver- 
leigh  Court  on  29th  January,  1837,  until  the  establishment 
at  St.  John's,  near  Tiverton,  could  be  ready  for  him.  Here 
he  opened,  on  19th  May,  1839,  its  handsome  chapel,  which 
he  was  anxious  should  prove  a  temple  of  peace  and  concord 
to  all  around  him.  A  twelvemonth  later,  at  the  invitation 
of  his  special  friend,  the  late  Lady  Wrey,  which  occurred  28rd 
July,  1842,  he  accepted  the  situation  of  chaplain  at  Taw- 
stock  Court ;  but  after  the  death  of  that  kind  patroness,  his 
health  requiring  a  change,  he  returned  to  Tiverton,  to  the 
joy  of  many,  especially  of  the  poor.  During  the  three  last 
years  he  added  to  the  number  of  his  friends  many  of  the 
most  respectable  families  in  that  town  and  neighbourhood : 
in  fact,  he  was  a  general  favourite.  It  pleased  God  on  the 
16th  March,  1846,  to  visit  him  with  a  paralytic  attack,  which 
terminated  fatally  on  Saturday,  the  2l8t.  All  who  knew 
him  must  have  esteemed  and  loved  him ;  but  after  enjoying 
the  honour  of  his  friendship  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  none 
can  more  sincerely  mourn  his  loss  than  I.  He  died  in  the 
seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

*  This  yenerable  prelate  died  8th  October,  1831,  aged  ninety-one, 
and  forty-fourth  year  of  hie  episcopacy. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLBROIT.  277 

CoTHAM  (Ambrose),  James,  O.S.B.,  bom  12th  February, 
1810,  at  Liverpool ;  studied  at  St.  Edmond's,  Douay ;  entered 
his  venerable  order  18th  May,  1829;  ordained  priest  at 
Prior-park  20th  December,  1834,  for  the  Tasmanian  mission, 
where  he  arrived  on  8th  August,  1835.  For  eighteen  years 
he  served  there  as  colonial  and  convict  chaplain,  visiting  all 
parts  of  the  colony ;  but  for  the  first  nine  years  principally 
resided  at  Launceston  and  Richmond,  in  both  of  which  towns 
he  erected  a  church,  presbytery,  &c.  From  January,  1845, 
to  January,  1851,  he  had  charge  of  the  Queen's  Orphan 
Schools,  the  Oeneral  Hospital,  and  the  principal  convict 
establishments  in  the  vicinity  of  Hobart-town.  Having 
obtained  eighteen  months'  leave  of  absence  from  the  govern- 
ment, he  sailed  for  England  17th  January,  1851,  and  on  the 
discontinuance  of  convict  transportation  to  Tasmania,  sub- 
sequent to  his  arrival  in  his  native  country,  the  government 
granted  him  a  retiring  pension  of  £57.  10^.  per  annum.  In 
July,  1852,  he  was  appointed  to  the  mission  of  Cheltenham. 

CoTHAM,  William,  S.J.,  elder  brother  of  the  preceding, 
born  at  Liverpool  80th  August,  1806 ;  admitted  a  novice  at 
Mount  Rouge  at  the  age  of  twenty ;  was  ordained  priest  in  the 
Ember-week  of  Advent,  1834,  and  said  his  first  Mass  at 
Stonyhurst  on  21st  December  that  year;  succeeded  F.  J. 
Brownbill  24th  September,  1835,  and  for  full  ten  years 
displayed  unwearied  zeal  in  the  discharge  of  his  missionary 
duties.  He  then  was  recalled  to  Stonyhurst,  where  he  was 
charged  for  a  time  with  the  care  of  that  large  congregation ; 
then  was  sent  to  the  arduous  mission  of  Wigan ;  but  is  now; 
stationed  at  Portico. 

CoucHB,  John,  S.J.,  bom  at  Tolfrey,  near  Fowey,  on 
14th  April,  1744,  and  joined  the  order  in  1762.  For  some 
time  was  incumbent  at  Canford  and  at  Lullwortb ;  but  spent 
the  last  twenty-two  years  of  his  missionary  career  at  South- 
end, Hants.  Retiring  then  to  Greenwich,  he  there  died  on 
29th  December,  1813. 

N.B.  His  near  relation  William  Couche,  son  of  William 
Conche,  of  Tolfrey,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Anne,  daughter  of 
Peter  Hoskins,  of  Ibberton,  Dorset,  was  bom  on  5th 
February,  1732;  he  became  a  scholastic  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  and  promised  to  become  a  valuable  member  of  the 
order,  when  he  was  carried  off  prematurely  at  Idege  on  23rd 
Febmary,  1763.  Soc.  four.  I  have  read  with  admiration 
the  well- written  and  very  edifying  memoir,  "  De  Vita  Virtu- 
tibusque  Gulielmi  Couche,^'  from  the  pen  of  his  friend. 
Father  Ralph  Hoskins. 


278  BIOGRAPHICAL    LIST   OF   THE    CLERGY. 

CouRBEi  Charles^  S.J. — This  good  French  Jesuit  was 
chaplain  to  WilliaiUi  the  late  Lord  Stourton^  soon  after  his 
marriage,  at  Deanalease ;  then  to  James  Everard,  ninth  Lord 
Arundell^  at  Ashcombe ;  but  ended  his  days  at  Rotherwaas 
22nd  June,  1815. 

Coupi,  Jean,  bom  at  Bomazy,  in  Higher  Brittany,  20th 
March,  1765;  ordained  at  Dol  in  December,  1789;  emi- 
grated in  September,  1792,  and  established  himself  in 
Exeter  as  a  teacher  ef  the  French  language.  I  found  him 
here,  in  1808,  generally  respected  for  his  gentle  virtues  and 
superior  talents:  as  an  English  scholar  1^  was  unequalled 
any  of  his  countrymen,  except  M.  Premord.  At  my  recom- 
mendation  he  accepted  the  charge  of  the  Tor-Abbey  mission 
after  the  retirement  of  M.  le  Hericy  in  1816,  and  continued 
there  his  efficient  services  until  15th  June,  1820,  when  he 
took  shipping  to  revisit  his  native  country.  After  a  few 
months'  stay,  he  came  back  to  me  at  Exeter;  and  on  28th 
December,  1820,  I  prevailed  upon  him  to  succour  the  con- 
gregation at  Poole,  *  which  remained  destitute  of  a  pastor. 
He  consented,  in  his  charity,  to  do  so ;  but  at  Michaelmas, 
1825,  surrendered  his  trust  into  the  bishop's  hands,  that  he 
might  return  to  France,  and  prepare  for  eternity.  He 
survived  until  31st  December,  1842. 

Cowley  (Gregory),  Wiiliam,  O.S.B.,  an  honoured  name 
amongst  his  brethren.  For  a  long  time  he  was  the  amiable 
and  accomplished  prior  of  St.  Edmund's,  at  Paris.  The 
celebrated  Dr.  Johnson  held  him  in  the  highest  esteem.  In 
1794  he  succeeded  to  the  dignity  of  president,  and  died  in 
office  at  Vernon  Hall,  co.  Lancaster,  19th  June,  1799, 
ttt.  sixty-seven.  He  is  connected  with  the  West,  by  being 
resident  chaplain  with  the  Hydes,  near  Marlborough,  from 
1790  to  1794. 

Crowe,  Michael  Francis,  D.D.,  bom  near  Limerick  on 
4th  August,  1804.  After  receiving  the  earlier  part  of  his 
education  in  his  native  country,  he  repaired,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  to  Paris,  and  entered  the  Royal  College  of 
St.  Stanislaus  as  a  lay  student.  At  the  General  Concursus, 
two  years  later,  he  obtained  the  first  prize  in  philosophy, 
and  received  the  degree  of  Bachelier  es  Lettres.  Shortly 
after,  he  commenced  the  study  of  divinity  in  the  College  of 
the  French  Missions,  was  ordained,  by  papal  dispensation, 
in  the  course  of  the  year  1827,  and  was  successively  appointed 


BIOOaAFHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLEBOY.  279 

to  teach  philosophy  and  diyinity  in  the  college  aforesaid.  The 
delicate  state  of  his  health  compelling  him  to  resign  this 
professorship,  he  was  nominated  priest  vicar  in  the  Church 
of  Notre  Dame  des  Yictoires;  but  in  January,  1828, 
M.  de  Quelen,  archbishop  of  Paris,  transferred  him  to 
St.  Roch.  After  defending  a  thesis  at  Sorbonne,  the  degree  of 
B.D.  was  awarded  him,  and  in  1830  he  was  named  an  Hono- 
rary Clerk  to  the  Royal  Chapel ;  but  the  Revolution  of  July, 
that  year,  put  an  extinguisher  on  every  prospect  of  prefer- 
ment in  that  quarter.  Proceeding  to  Rome,  he  finished  the 
theological  course  at  the  Sapienza,  and  after  sustaining  a 
public  thesis,  in  1833  received,  from  the  hand  of  his 
Eminence  the  Archchancellor,  the  insignia  of  D.D.  He 
then  took  charge  of  the  sons  of  Sir  Edward  Smythe  and 
Sir  Thomas  Stanley,  Baronets,  and  after  accompanying  them 
through  Europe  and  the  East,  arrived  in  England  in  1835 ; 
and  on  20th  September,  that  year,  became  the  approved 
pastor  of  the  Tawstock  mission.  He  was  the  first  incumbent 
there  who  commenced  a  register,  and  many  are  indebted  to 
him  for  the  knowledge  of  Catholic  truth.  On  10th  April, 
1837,  he  resigned  this  situation  to  become  tutor  to  the  only 
son  of  Sir  Clifford  Constable,  Bart. 

This  charge  being  accomplished  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
parties,  the  worthy  doctor,  in  his  zeal  for  souls,  undertook 
the  upper  mission  in  Bath.  Converting  the  ground-floor  of  his 
house  in  Brunswick -street  into  a  very  decent  place  for  public 
worship,  his  love  of  the  ministry  and  his  reputation  for 
eloquence  attracted  a  considerable  congregation.  Satan, 
jealous  of  the  progress  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  happiness  it 
diffuses,  tempted  some  emissaries  to  whisper  some  suspicions, 
and  gradually  to  broach  reports,  against  the  moral  chieuracter 
of  this  exemplary  priest  and  finished  gentleman.  When 
such  rumours  reached  his  ears,  he  at  once  demanded  an 
investigation,  and  good  Bishop  Hendren,  that  lover  of 
justice,  ever  mindful  of  St.  PauPs  command  to  Timothy 
(1  Epis.  v.  19), '' Against  a  priest  receive  not  an  accusation, 
but  under  two  or  three  witnesses ;  '^  and  again  of  the  admo- 
nition of  St.  Isidore,  "  Nullum  damnare,  nisi  comprobatum ; 
nullum  excommunicare,  nisi  discussum,''  appointed  a  com- 
mission of  inquiry  into  the  case;  and  the  result  was,  an 
honourable  acquittal  of  the  accused.  But  his  unscrupulous 
opposers  returned  to  their  dirty  work  again.  How  embit- 
tered and  disappointed  they  must  have  felt,  when  his 
attached  congregation  presented  him  with  a  valuable  silver- 
gilt  chalice  and  paten,  in  the  decorated  style  of  the  twelfth 


280  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  07   THE   CLEBOY. 

century,  as  a  testimony  of  their  gratitude  for  his  pastoral 
exertions  during  the  previous  four  years : — 

Presented 

to 

The  Very  Rer.  M.  F.  Crowe,  D.D., 

By  the  Members  of  this  Congregation 

And  other  Catholics  of  this  City, 

In  token  of  their   profound  respect 

For  his  many  eminent  virtttes. 

And  in  grateral  acknowledgment 

Of  his  zealous  and  efficient  services 

In  the  Sacred  Ministry. 

Bath, 

Dec.  12th,  1851. 

It  was  accompanied  with  a  suitable  address^  in  which  they 
openly  state,  that  "  they  had  possessed  the  best  opportunities 
of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  many  excellent  qualities 
that  adorn  your  character  as  a  priest,  a  scholar,  and  a 
gentleman.^'  The  reader  will  be  interested  in  reading  this 
transaction  in  the  '^Catholic  Standard '^  journal  of  20th 
December,  1851. 

Bishop  Hendren's  resignation  of  the  see  of  Clifton  was 
an  ill  omen  to  the  doctor's  peaceful  prospects  at  Bath. 
Summary  power  passed  into  other  hands.  In  the  case 
before  us,  an  eminent  divine,  an  ecclesiastic  of  long  standing, 
who  had  been  employed  in  the  missions  of  Tawstock  and  of 
Bath  by  Bishops  Baines,  Ullathome,  and  Hendren,  is  simply 
told :  "  In  this  diocese  of  Clifton  we  are  supreme ;  we 
dispense  with  your  services.'^  In  vindication  of  his  character, 
—of  the  rights  and  honour  of  the  ministry, — ^the  injured 
doctor  appealed  to  Home.  In  this  he  acted  with  becoming 
spirit  and  sober  wisdom ;  all  that  I  regretted  was,  that  in 
passing  through  London  to  Bome^  early  in  September,  1852, 
he  had  not  sought  an  interview  with  our  English  Cardinal, 
and  thus  have  obviated  the  delays  incidental  to  suits  in 
the  Ecclesiastical  Courts.  This  omission,  in  the  hurry  of  his 
movements,  and  whilst  his  mind  was  smarting  under  the 
sense  of  unmerited  wrong,  he  himself,  in  the  sequel,  most 
deeply  lamented.  He  arrived  in  the  Eternal  City  on  22nd 
September.  After  experiencing  almost  incredible  subter- 
fuges and  intrigue,  his  case  reached  the  ear  of  his  Holiness, 
who  declared  that  Dr.  Crowe's  services  entitled  him  to  the 
full  rights  of  incorporation,  and  to  the  same  privileges  as  the 
other  priests  attached  to  the  diocese  of  Clifton ;  and  it  was 
admitted  that  the  course  of  proceedings  against  him  was 
unjustifiable,  uncanonical,  and  in  every  way  irregular.  The 
result  of  the  suit  was^  that  Cardinal  Wiseman,  the  Archbishop 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLBBOY.  281 

of  Westminster^  came  forward  to  take  him  under  his  immediate 
protection^  and  offered  him  a  distinguished  position  in  the 
important  mission  of  Chelsea^  where  he  labours  with  an  assi- 
duity and  success  honourable  to  himself,  and  satisfactory  to 
his  friendly  promoter.  Had  the  doctor  been  of  a  litigious  and 
contumacious  temper^  it  is  firightAil  to  think  what  mischief 
might  have  been  occasioned  to  religion  in  the  then  excited 
state  of  the  nation  against  the  newly-constituted  hierarchy  I 

Whilst  life  remains^  I  can  never  forget  the  heroic  exer- 
tions of  Dr.  Crowe^  in  the  midst  of  his  sufferings^  to  rescue 
poor  Monsignore  Fisher^  of  Lyme,  from  disgrace  and  ruin. 
No  one  could  have  done  more  in  the  attempt  to  save  a  soul 
from  death.  May  Heaven  reward  such  disinterested  and 
enlightened  zeal  in  the  resurrection  of  the  just !     Amen. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  regret  to  learn  that  his  health 
broke  down  from  over-exertion,  and  that,  with  the  advice  of 
Sir  Benjamin  Brodie,  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge.  This 
eminent  surgeon  pronounces  the  ailment  to  be  sciatica.  I 
trust  that,  under  the  unremitting  care  of  Sir  Benjamin,  his 
patient  may  soon  be  enabled  to  resume  his  official  duties. 
But, ''  Honi  soit  qui  mal  y  pense ''  should  be  attended  to  by 
clergy  as  well  as  laity. 

Crowther,  Thomas  Timothy  Alphonsus,  O.S.A. — This 
English  convert  was  sent  from  Bome  by  Dr.  Joseph  Palermo, 
Oeneral  of  the  Augustinian  Order,  in  July,  1852,  to  assist 
F.  (yDonnell  at  the  Church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Bristol.  In 
consequence  of  the  supposed  invasion  of  the  rights  of  his 
order,  the  said  Oeneral  summoned  F.  O'Donnell  to  Bome,  to 
^ve  evidence.  Whilst  the  suit  was  pending,  F.  Crowther  was 
employed  by  Bishop  Burgess  at  St.  Mary's,  Montpellier, 
Bath ;  but  this  he  quitted  for  Liverpool. 

Cullinan,  William. — ^This  zealous  priest  came  from 
Ireland  in  July,  1843,  and  was  appointed  successor  to 
F.  O'Ferrall  at  St.  Joseph's,  Trenchard  Street,  Bristol; 
thence  originated  a  new  mission  at  Bedminster,  but  early  in 
August,  1852,  was  directed  by  Bishop  Burgess  to  make  seisin 
of  the  Augustinian  Chapel  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  Bristol.  This 
act  of  authority,  under  pain  of  suspension,  was  submitted  to 
by  the  incumbent,  F.  O'Doimell,  O.S.A.,  but  under  protest. 
Mr.  Cullinan  was  succeeded  in  that  arduous  mission  by  the 
Very  Bev.  Canon  Illingworth  on  1st  September,  1853. 


282  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE   CLEBGY. 


D. 

Daly,  William,  was  bom  at  Newton  Barry,  co.  Wexford, 
16th  October,  1814;  entered,  at  Marseilles,  into  the  new 
order  of  the  Conceptionists,  founded  by  Monseigneur  Eugene 
Mazenod,  who  was  consecrated  bishop  of  that  city  on  14th 
October,  1832,  and  who  ordained  him  priest  on  3rd  May, 
1841.  He  was  at  first  appointed  to  the  Penzance  mission. 
Removed  from  the  order,  he  is  at  present  employed  in  the 
Failsworth  mission,  near  Manchester. 

Daniel,  Edward,  alias  Pickford,  D.D.,  a  native  of  Corn- 
wall, was  sent  early  to  Douay  College,  and  after  studying 
philosophy  and  one  year  of  divinity,  was  sent  with  nine 
others  to  Lisbon,  to  colonize  the  New  Secular  College  founded 
in  that  city  by  Don  Pedro  Continho.  These  promising 
youths  reached  their  destination  on  14th  November,  1628, 
and  on  the  22nd  of  Februaryfollowing  the  college  was  solemnly 
opened,  and  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time  a  prolific 
nursery  of  able  scholars  and  missionaries.  Mr.  Daniel  having 
received  the  degree  of  D.D.  in  1640,  was  permitted  to  leave 
for  the  English  mission,  but  was  recalled  in  June,  1642,  to 
be  president  of  the  college,  an  office  which  he  filled  for  six 
years  with  distinguished  credit.  Shortly  after,  he  returned 
to  Douay,  where  he  rendered  invaluable  service  as  a  professor 
of  theology  and  a  confessarius.  In  July,  1653,  he  quitted 
for  England,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1657.  His  ^'  Book  of  Meditations,"  for  the  use  of  the 
English  College  of  Lisbon,  published  in  1649,  republished 
and  enlarged  six  years  after  his  death  at  Douay,  I  should  be 
glad  to  see  re-edited  and  revised ;  but  could  wish  one  passage^ 
in  the  third  meditation,  on  the  state  and  obligation  of  a  mis- 
sionary priest,  page  451,  were  expunged,  viz. :  *'  Finally,  if 
thou  comest  to  want,  thou  must  even  sit  down  with  it,  and 
practise  that  poverty  which  others  profess  and  feel  not,  but 
are  on  all  sides  assisted,  respected,  and  honoured, — nay,  wiU 
be  the  first  that  shall  work  thee  out  of  harbour,  if  good  luck 
have  any  way  accommodated  thee." 

Danibl,  John,  O.S.P.,  brother  to  the  preceding. — ^After 
finishing  his  education  at  Douay  College,  and  his  pro- 
motion to  priesthood,  he  joined  the  restored  English  pro- 
vince of  the  Franciscans  on  16th  December,  1618.  He 
was  appointed  the  second  guardian  of  St.  Bonaventure's 
at  Douay,  and  on  30th  AprU,  1653,  was  chosen  provincial. 
He  died  between  the  Chapter  holden  SOth  April,   1659, 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE    CLEKQT.  288 

and  the  Intermediate  Congregation  of  the  4th  November, 
1660. 

.  Qy.  Who  was  Hieronymos  Pickford,  O.S.F.,  often  called  a 
St.  Bonaventura  ? 

Danson^  Thomas^  veri  Douthwaites,  bom  in  Yorkshire 
28th  February,  1798;  educated  at  Ushaw ;  reached  St.  John's, 
Tiverton,  21st  June,  1842 ;  but,  finding  that  he  was  not  master 
of  the  premises,  quitted  on  8th  August  following ;  proceeded 
to  Shortwood,  where  he  remained  until  27th  May,  1844.  He 
then  became  assistant  at  Formby,  near  Liverpool,  but  since 
20th  October,  1853,  has  been  serving  the  mission  of  Howden, 
in  his  native  county. 

Darbyshire  (Dominic),  James,  O.S.D.,  took  the  habit  in 
the  English  Convent  of  the  Holy  Cross  at  Bomheim  on  1st 
January,  1714,  set.  twenty-four.  The  Chapter  Bolls  describe 
him  as  one  most  deserving  of  the  province,  who  had  filled 
various  o£Sces  with  commendation.  From  his  Journal,  still 
at  Ugbrooke,  commencing  with  August,  1726,  and  ending 
with  the  opening  of  January,  1757, 1  infer  that  he  was  chap- 
lain at  Standish,  and  afterwards  at  Qifford  Hall,  Suffolk, 
before  his  arrival  at  Ugbrooke  in  February,  1735.  He  was 
much  liked  by  the  Clifford  family,  and  to  their  deep  regret 
was  called  away  to  be  the  sixteenth  prior  of  Bomheim  from 
1747  to  1750.  He  was  then  allowed  to  return  to  Ugbrooke, 
where  he  died  on  Friday,  7th  January,  1757,  set.  sixty-eight, 
prof,  forty-six,  sac.  forty-four,  and  was  buried  behind 
St.  Cyprian's  chapel  there. 

Davenport,  Christopher,  alias  Francis  Hunt,  alias 
Franciscus  a  Sancta  Clara,  O.S.F. — The  life  of  this  eminent 
man  might  fill  an  octavo  volume.  He  was  bom  at  Coventry, 
and  reconciled  to  the  true  faith  whilst  a  student  at  Merton 
College,  Oxford,  and  shortly  after  entered  the  novitiate  of 
the  English  Friars  at  Ipres.  At  his  profession  he  passed 
over  to  Douay,  to  assist  at  the  commencement  of  St.  Bona- 
venture's  Convent  in  that  city.*  Before  the  auspicious 
restoration  of  the  English  Franciscan  province  by  the  letters 
patent  of  the  Minister-Gheneral  F.  Bemardine  de  Senis,  6th 
August,  1629,  which  created  F.  John  Oennings  the  first 
provincial,  he  had  been  appointed  guardian  of  the  convent 
aforesaid,  and  made  a  D.D.  by  his  general.  Thrice  he  was 
chosen  provincial,  as  I  have  shown  in  his  memoir  in  the 
"  Rambler''  of  August,  1850,  pp.  110,  111.  At  length,  this 
venerable  patriarch  of  his  brethren  expired  at  Somerset  House, 
London,  on  Whit-Sunday,  31st  May,  1680,  let.  eighty-two, 
•  1  find  it  was  first  inhabited  on  dOth  October,  1618. 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY. 

and^  according  to  His  wish,  was  buried  in  St.  John's  church, 
of  the  Savoy.  In  page  118  of  the  Chapter  Book,  his  loss  is 
thus  recorded  :  "  Reverendus  admodum  ac  Venerabilis  in 
Christo  Pater  Frater  Franciscus  k  S.  Clar&,  faelicis  memorise, 
tertio  Provincise  nostrse  Minister  Provincialis,  qui  trinis 
persolutis  Jubilseis,  Beligionis,  Sacerdotii,  et  Missionis,  se 
Fatrem  amantissimum  et  providentissimum  suis  Fratribus  et 
Filiis  exhibuit  usque  in  finem,  eorum  necessitatibus  in  omnibus 
abunde  occurrens ;  se  Pastorem  vigilantissimum  et  Operarium 
fidelem  in  Missione  Anglican^  per  57  annos  prsebuit,  factus 
omnibus  omnia,  ita  ut  principes  et  pauperes  lucraretur; 
Urbi  et  Orbi  notus."  He  is  connected  with  the  West  by  having 
lived  in  Cornwall  before  the  civil  wars. — (See  Alban  Butler's 
"Lives  of  the  Saints/'  May  17th,  St.  Maddern.) 

Davis,  William,  born  at  Usk,  educated  at  Douay. — ^This 
primitive  and  mortified  priest,  after  serving  Chepstow,  was 
sent  to  the  poor  mission  at  Dartmouth  in  1805,  void  by  the 
resignation  of  I'Abb^  Verrier.  Struggling  with  poverty  and 
illness,  he  quitted  it  just  before  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
Chepstow  30th  December,  1814.  N.B.  Charles  Henry 
Davis,  O.S.B.,  pastor  of  Do¥niside  from  1844  until  he  was 
consecrated  bishop  of  Maitland,  26th  February,  1848,  died  at 
Sydney  17th  May,  1854,  set.  thirty-nine,  Rel.  twenty-two, 
sac.  fourteen. 

Davison  (Beenardinb),  John,  O.S.F.,  bom  at  Catterick, 
CO.  York,  27th  February,  1791. — This  humble  and  zealous 
Franciscan,  after  serving  Lea  House  mission,  near  Stony- 
hurst,  was  appointed  director  to  the  Poor  Clares  at  Plymouth, 
on  the  retirement  of  the  Bev.  Bichard  Sumner.  Here  he 
continued  about  four  years,  when  in  August,  1820,  he  was 
reinstated  at  Lea  House ;  and  when  that  mission  was  given 
up  by  his  body  to  the  bishop  of  the  North,  he  retired  to 
Osmotherly  (properly  Osmundley),  a  retreat  for  superannuated 
members  of  the  province.  —  (See  note  in  ^'Bambler^'  of 
August,  1850,  p.  118.)  Understanding  that  the  Bev.  Edward 
Metcalf,  the  incumbent  of  Newport,  required  additional  aid 
in  the  ajtluous  duties  of  his  mission,  he  volunteered  his  gra- 
tuitous services  to  the  diocesan.  Bishop  Brown.  On  14th 
October,  1841,  he  commenced  his  zealous  labours.  Li  a 
letter  written  to  me  by  his  bishop,  dated  2nd  February,  1842, 
his  lordship  thus  expresses  himself :  ''  I  am  greatly  distressed 
by  the  death,  about  half-past  four  a.m.  yesterday,  of  F,  John 
Bemardine  Davison,  at  Newport.  He  caught  a  typhus  fever 
from  visiting  the  sick,  and  is  gone,  I  trust,  to  receive  the 
crown  of  a  martyr  of  charity." 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF  THE   CLERGY.  285 

The  following  account  of  him  appeared  in  the  oolumns  of 
the  Monmoutkshire  Merlin : — 

"  On  Tuesday,  the  Ist  of  February,  at  the  house  of  the 
Rev.  Edward  Metcalfe,  the  Rev.  John  Davison,  O.S.F.,  expired, 
aged  fifty-two.  The  circumstances  attending  the  demise  of 
this  amiable  and  zealous  minister  of  the  Grospel  have  caused 
very  general  sympathy  and  regret  throughout  the  town  and 
neighbourhood  amongst  Christians  of  every  mode  of  faith. 

"  Mr.  Davison,  a  priest  of  artless  tenderness  of  heart,  pri- 
mitive simplicity  of  manners,  and  blameless  life,  had  been 
recently  appointed  coadjutor  to  the  Rev.  Edward  Metcalfe. 
He  came  to  this  town  but  three  months  ago  with  vigour  and 
energies  that  promised  to  the  Catholics  of  Newport  a  long 
and  useful  life  amongst  them.  He  immediatelv  commenced 
the  onerous  duties  of  his  sacred  calling  in  aid  of  a  clergyman 
of  whom  it  may  be  said  that  his  career  embraces  the  circle  of 
the  Christian  charities,  and  whose  health  is  now,  we  regret  to 
state,  seriously  impaired  by  the  labours  of  his  most  arduous 
missiion.  Mr.  Davison  might  be  seen  at  all  hours  visiting  the 
cheerless  homes  of  the  desolate  poor,  '  plumbing  the  depths 
of  human  wretchedness,'  administering  food  to  the  famishing, 
or  teaching  the  best  of  lessons — '  how  to  die ! '  During  the 
present  prevalence  of  poverty  and  sickness  among  the  poor, 
the  calls  upon  the  sacred  duties  of  the  clergy  are  imperative 
and  incessant.  On  Thursday  se'nnight  Mr.  Davison  was  sum- 
moned to  the  bedside  of  a  poor  man  who  was  sinking  in  typhus 
fever.  He  promptly  attended,  though  warned  of  his  danger 
from  the  mdignant  nature  of  the  disease ;  for  he  felt  that  the 
good  shepherd  should  be  ready  to  give  his  life  for  his  flock. 
He  administered  to  the  djring  penitent  the  consolations  of 
religion,  and  returned  to  his  humble  home,  his  heart  throb- 
bing with  affliction  for  the  miseries  of  the  poor  around  him, 
but  still  ardent  to  benefit  his  fellow-creatures,  and  to  advance 
the  honour  of  his  God. 

''Alas  !  he  had  caught  the  distemper  of  the  poor  sufferer; 
the  fever  was  upon  him ;  and  then  came  the  patient  sickness, 
the  Christian  resignation,  and  the  quiet  death  I  all,  all  of 
which  are,  and  long  will  be,  sorrowftdly  remembered,  only  to 
add  value  to  the  loss — to  aggravate  regret  for  what  in  this 
life  cannot  be  recalled.  An  event  like  this  is  surely  calculated 
to  come  home  to  the  sensibility  and  bosoms  even  of  those 
whose  eyes  wander  over  life — ^whose  fancy  dances  after  the 
*  meteors  of  happiness  kindled  by  itself.'  It  is  surely  calcu- 
lated forcibly  to  draw  our  attention  to  the  interest  of  immortal 
souls,  from  the  oft  and  awfully-illustrated  fact  that '  in  the 
midst  of  life  we  are  in  death.' 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OP   THE   CLBROT. 

''  Deeply  is  the  lot  of  this  reverend  strsBger  lamented 
amongst  those  who  have  known  him  even  for  the  brief  period 
that  he  has  been  amongst  us.  The  dictates  of  philosophy, 
which  will  command  us  to  look  up  with  indifference  on 
abstract  things,  may  dispose  to  conceal  our  sorrow,  but  cannot 
assuage  it.  Real  alleviation  for  the  loss  of  a  Christian  minister 
and  friend  can  only  be  obtained  from  the  sempiternal  source 
of  all  good— from  the  cheering  and  glorious  promises  of  Him 
in  whose  hands  are  life  and  death,  and  whose  Gk)spel  has 
'  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light/ 

''E.   DOWLINO." 

"On  Friday,  February  4,  the  funeral  of  the  late  Rev. 
John  Davison  took  place  at  the  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Mary, 
on  which  occasion  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Brown,  Vicar- ApostoUc 
of  Wales;  Dr.  Rooker,  V.G.;  the  Rev.  Edward  Metcalfe; 
the  Revs.  Messrs.  Carroll,  Keely,  Cody,  and  WooUett,  o£Sci- 
ated  in  the  solemn  and  affecting  ceremonies  usual  on  such 
occasions  in  the  Catholic  Church.  There  was  a  numerous 
congregation  assembled,  amongst  whom  we  noticed  many 
members  of  the  Established  Church,  and  several  of  our  Dis- 
senting fellow-townsmen,  the  melancholy  circumstances  of 
poor  Mr.  Davison's  death  having  very  generally  excited  the 
sympathy  and  regret  of  the  neighbourhood.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Rooker  said  Mass,  and  preached  a  very  eloquent  sermon  on 
the  occasion  from  Heb.  ix.  27 :  'It  is  appointed  to  men  once 
to  die,  and  after  that  the  judgment.'  The  discourse  was 
admirably  appropriate,  and  drew  tears  from  most  of  those 
present." 

Dawson,  Jamks. — Soon  after  his  ordination  he  was  sent, 
in  July,  1841,  to  Shortwood,  where  he  continued  thirteen 
months,  and  thence  was  removed  to  Courtfield,  near  Ross. 
In  1848  I  find  him  at  Merthyr  Tydvil.  In  1851  he  was 
stationed  at  Dowlais,  then  at  Usk ;  but  since  the  summer 
of  1854,  he  has  been  resting  at  Shepton  Mallett.  On 
the  appointment  of  Dr.  English  to  Clifton  Church,  in 
April,  1856,  Mr.  Dawson  was  sent  to  replace  him  at  Can- 
nington. 

Day,  Samuel,  O.S.B.,  who,  in  taking  the  religious  habit 
in  1806,  adopted  the  name  of  Bede,  was  the  first  pastor  of 
the  Kemerton  mission,  near  Tewkesbury,  and  opened  its 
beautiful  chapel  18th  July,  1843.  He  left  in  1848,  and  is 
now  at  Felton-pork,  Northumberland. 

Dempset,  William. — ^This  young  Irish  ecclesiastic,  after 
combating  with  a  feeble  and  impaired  constitution  at  Upton^ 


BIOOBAFHICAL   LIST   OF  THE   CLE&GT.  287 

near  Poole^  was  obliged  to  resign^  and  retire  to  Prior-park 
for  a  time.  With  difficulty  he  reached  his  native  country, 
where  he  died  in  July,  1840. 

Dessaux,  Romain,  an  emigrant  French  priest,  who  served 
MamhuU  for  some  time;  then  returning  to  France,  died 
7th  January,  1835,  aet.  seventy-eight. 

DiGBY,  Jebome,  O.S.B. — On  the  death  of  the  lamented 
Cuthbert  Simpson,  assistant  to  F.  Pembridge,  in  1785,  this 
good  monk  came  to  supply  for  a  time.  He  afterwards  served 
the  Warrington  mission.  ^  Retiring  to  Downside,  after  some 
years,  he  rested  from  his  labours  on  7th  April,  1825,  set. 
eighty-five,  rel.  sixty-nine,  as  his  epitaph  testifies. 

Dominic,  F.,  O.S.D. — Of  this  apostolic  man  I  have  treated 
largely  in  the  first  part,  under  Woodchester.  To  the  grief 
of  aU  good  men,  his  course  was  rapidly  run  out  on  27th 
August,  1849,  8Bt.  fifty-seven.  *^  Of  him  it  may  be  said,  he 
consumed  like  incense  on  the  altar,  burning  bright  and 
difi^using  fragrance,  till  not  a  remnant  could  be  seen.'' 

Dormeb,  Bobebt,  S.J. — This  worthy  Jesuit  had  resided 
at  Odstock,  Stapehill,  and  Beckford ;  but  I  look  in  vain  for 
his  period  of  service  in  these  places.  His  final  destination 
was  Wappenbury,  whence  he  passed  to  our  Lord  4th  May, 
1792,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year. 

Doublet. — ^In  1810  I  remember  this  French  abb^,  who 
had  long  been  resident  at  Shaftesbury,  and  had  the  charge 
of  the  faithful  there.  The  chapel  was  much  larger  than  I 
had  expected.  He  quitted  at  the  restoration  of  the 
Bourbons. 

DouBLENs,  Louis. — Bcforc  the  French  Revolution,  he  was 
a  canon  of  Arras  Cathedral ;  at  the  emigration  he  took  up 
his  station  at  Bath,  where  he  was  much  respected  and 
esteemed  for  his  integrity  and  polished  manners.  At  the 
request  of  Bishop  CoUingridge,  he  consented  to  become 
director  to  the  good  nuns  at  Lanheme,  where  he  arrived  on 
7th  September,  1827.  There  he  finished  his  earthly  course 
on  30th  October,  1839,  set.  eighty-five,  and  was  buried  in 
the  convent  cemetery.  The  venerable  man  had  never 
occasion  to  wear  spectacles. 

DowDiNG,  Hilary,  O.S.B.  —  This  amiable  monk  of 
Ampleforth,  since  1832,  gave  his  valuable  services  to  the 
Cheltenham  mission  from  1843  to  1849 ;  since  which  time, 
I  am  informed,  he  has  been  settled  at  Little  Crosby,  near 
Liverpool. 


288  BIOaBAPHICAL   LIST   07  THB   CLERGY. 

DuBuissoN. — This  abb^  was  long  a  resident  at  Weymouth, 
and  had  charge  of  the  Catholics  there.  He  quitted  in  July, 
1822,  for  his  native  country,  where  he  died,  that  winter, 
aged  seventy-six. 

DucHEMiN. — In  the  iSrst  part  of  these  gleanings^  page  118, 
I  stated  that  this  respected  French  abb^  had  the  charge  of 
the  Gloucester  mission  &om  January,  1804,  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1816.  He  then  returned  to  lus  native  country.  In 
a  letter  which  I  received  from  Caen,  bearing  date  6th 
January,  1845,  I  read  that  he  died  at  Bayeux,  a  model  of 
the  ecclesiastical  spirit,  about  ten  years  before, — "  il  y  a  pen 
pres  dix  ans,'' — probably  late  in  1836. 

Dtjck  (Basil),  James,  O.S.B.,  bom  July  18th,  1813,  at 
Berwick  Hall,  co.  Northumberland ;  professed  at  Downside, 
October  30th,  1831 ;  ordained  priest,  23rd  February,  1839. 
After  being  employed  at  Whitehaven  from  February,  1840, 
he  was  appointed  to  Cheltenham,  vice  Glassbrooke.^ 

Dullard  (Benedict),  James,  O.S.B.,  born  in  Ireland, 
1793,  and  entered  amongst  the  Augustinians.  After  serving 
Cannington  for  a  time,  he  felt  a  vehement  desire  to  enlist 
himself  under  the  banner  of  St.  Benedict.  His  wish  was 
granted,  and  he  went  through  his  novitiate  at  Douay  with 
great  fervour  and  edification,  under  the  prior,  now  the 
bishop  of  Port  Louis,  in  the  Mauritius,  Dr.  William  Bernard 
Collier.  At  present  my  good  friend  is  attached  to  St.  Bene- 
dict's Convent,  near  Stafford. 

DuNscoMBE,  Augustine,  O.S.B. — ^All  that  I  can  collect  of 
him  is,  that  he  was  a  native  of  Devon ;  was  professed  at 
Lambspring  11th  July,  1722,  and  died  in  England  on  6th 
December,  1736. 

Duval,  Jacques  Florin,  formerly  cure  de  St.  Remi,  in 
the  diocese  of  Constance.  On  the  death  of  the  Rev.  James 
Willacey,  he  succeeded  to  the  direction  of  the  convent  at 
Canford,  and  died  in  that  office  twelve  years  later,  viz., 
30th  March,  1817,  aet.  fifty-six. 

Duval. — This  French  Lazarite  was  much  esteemed  by 
Bishop  Collingridge.  He  was  the  author  of  the  "  Letters  on 
Quakerism.^'  For  many  years  he  was  attached  as  chaplain 
to  the  French  Prison  at  Stapleton,  near  Bristol,  where  he 
died  9th  March,  1814,  aged  eighty-four. 

*  Q.  Was  not  Dom  Ambrose  Duck  his  elder  brother?  This  rood 
Benedictine  was  pastor  at  Downside  from  1QS5  to  1837,  and  finished  his 
earthlv  course  at  Brislington  on  18th  September,  1848,  ct.  fifty-two. 
Rel.  thirty-three ;  sac.  twenty-three. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLEROT. 

DwTEB^  James,  bom  in  the  parish  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
Thurles,  9th  July,  1805 ;  he  was  educated  at  Carlow^  and 
proceeded,  in  1826,  to  the  English  College  at  Bome,  but 
finished  his  theology  at  St.  Sulpice,  at  Paris ;  he  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  Baines  in  1829.  After  making  the  round  of  the 
missions  of  Poole,  Weymouth,  and  Tawstock,  he  started  for 
Ireland  to  assist  his  bishop  in  the  organization  of  the  New 
College  at  Thurles,  but  was  soon  back  again  at  Tawstock ; 
thence  he  was  off  to  Bangor,  then  to  Poole  again,  thence  to 
Talacre ;  and  after  a  few  more  tossings  about,  he  sailed  for 
the  Mauritius  with  Bishop  Collier  in  June,  1845. 


E. 

EccLEs,  James,  S.J.,  bom  14th  October,  1822,  at  Wigan. 
After  studying  humanities  at  Stony  hurst,  he  entered  the  society 
7th  September,  1839,  and  was  sent  to  the  Jesuits'  College  at 
Tronchiennes,  near  Ghent,  where,  with  his  fellow  collegian, 
F.  Joseph  John  Bond,  already  mentioned  in  this  compilation, 
he  received  the  higher  orders.  On  his  return  to  England 
he  filled  various  offices  at  Mount  St.  Mary's,  near  Chester- 
field, and  succeeded  the  writer  of  these  notes,  as  incumbent  of 
St.  Nicholas,  Exeter,  on  6th  October,  1851.*  Proficias— 
''  Bene  prosperare,''  Ps.  117. 

Edgewokth,  Francis,  O.S.P.,  born  in  London  26th  April, 
1799 ;  at  an  early  age  took  the  Franciscan  habit ;  after  his 
ordinations,  was  appointed  incumbent  at  St.  Peter's,  Bir- 
mingham, a  situation  which  he  resigned  in  August,  1824, 

*  Most  cordially  I  congratulate  this  mv  successor  for  having  accom- 
plished the  poor  school,  attached  to  the  cnapel,  as  mentioned  in  Part  I. 
p.  26.  For  several  years,  1  may  sav,  in  justice  to  myself,  I  had  hired 
rooms  in  four  different  places  for  the  purpose ;  but  when  a  committee 
of  the  congregation  applied  for  the  very  site  of  the  present  school  to 
erect  their  building,  F.  Charles  Brooke,  then  residing  in  the  court,  as 
well  as  myself,  alleged  as  reasons  for  declining  the  grant,  **  the  fear  of 
confining  the  air,  of  obstructing  the  light,  of  occasioning  much  noise, 
and  of  bringing  the  Catholic  and  the  numerous  Wesle^ran  scholars,  at 
the  very  next  door,  into  too  much  contact  and  familiarity."  On  18th 
January,  1846,  the  committee  came  to  a  resolution  expressive  of  regret 
at  this  obstacle  to  their  wishes,  ^'trusting  that  the  same  originates  with 
a  fear  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  O.  ana  the  Rev.  C.  Brooke,  that  the  funds  for 
such  an  object  would  not  be  forUicoming."  The  sum  of  £44.  6s»  was 
subscribed  on  promise ;  and  of  this,  nearly  one  fourth  was  deducted  by 
death  or  emigration.  But  thanks  to  God,  better  times  came,  and  the 
work  has  succeeded. 


290  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLKBOT, 

when  Bishop  Collingridge  placed  him  at  Weymouth,  where 
he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1825,  when  he  received  direc- 
tions to  succeed  the  Bey.  John  Burke  at  St.  Joseph's  Chapel, 
Bristol.  In  Chapter  XII.  of  the  first  part  I  have  followed 
out  the  rest  of  his  biography,  concluding  with  his  sudden 
death  16th  November,  1850 :  B.I.P.  But  I  am  anxious  to 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  decision  of  mind,  the  personal 
courage,  and  tender  humanity  which  the  reverend  gentleman 
displayed  during  the  outrageous  riots  of  Bristol  in  the  begin- 
ning of  November,  1831,  and  which  merited  for  him  a  civic 
crown.  And  I  cannot  do  so  better,  than  by  republishing 
the  letter  of  a  dear  old  friend,  Dr.  Carpenter,  Unitarian 
minister,  formerly  of  Exeter,  and  then  a  resident  in  Bristol. 
It  wiU  repay  the  perusal.* 

*  A  letter  respecting  the  late  outrages,  inserted  in  the  Bristol 
Mercury  /— 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Bristol  Msrcury, 

Monday,  Nov.  7, 1831. 

Sir, — In  Fduc  Farl^'*s  Bristol  Journal^  of  Saturday,  are  inserted 
parts  of  a  letter  which  appeared  in  the  Globe  of  Thursday  last,  under 
the  signature  of  Publicota^  and  dated  November  the  1st.  As  Felix 
Farley  has  omitted  what  appears  to  me  important,  I  b^  you  to  do  me 
the  favour  of  inserting  the  whole,  as  it  appears  in  the  OMfe,  excepting 
two  or  three  typographical  errors.  I  place  in  brackets  the  parts  Felix 
Farl^  has  omitted,  and  leave  your  readers  to  divine  his  reasons  for 
themselves. 

**  riQ  your  journal  of  Saturday  night  you  say,  *  There  are  two  things 
which  must  strike  all  observers — ^by  how  small  a  band  of  persons  a 
formidable  riot  may  be  made  in  a  town ;  and  again,  how  vast  are  the 
crowds  in  England  who  have  every  temptation  to  make  riots,  from  their 
own  poverty,  and  the  want  of  any  organized  force  to  oppose  them.'  I  read 
the  passage  yesterday,  after  having  witnessed  the  trutn  of  it  in  the  late 
horrid  outrages,  particularly  of  Sunday  afternoon  and  night.  I  think 
the  riot  of  Saturday  greatly  the  result  of  political  exacerbation  directly 
personal  to  Sir  Charles  Wetherell,  though  much  aided  by  the  purposes 
of  the  public  depredators  who  have  been  training  in  the  streets  ot  Bristol 
for  the  last  six  or  eight  years.  There  was  no  disorder  when  the  199 
threw  out  the  Bill ;  and  there  would  have  been  none  if  Sir  Charles 
Wetherell  had  stayed  away.  He  ou^ht  to  have  resigned  his  post  as  judge, 
when  he  chose  that  of  a  violent  political  partizan«  But]  the  aggressions 
on  Sunday  morning,  beginning  soon  after  seven  at  the  Mansion-house, 
were  for  plunder ;  and  the  consumption  of  intoxicating  liquors  there, 
the  perfect  unrestrainedness  with  which  for  a  time  the  mob  went  on, 
and  afterwards  (between  ten  and  eleven)  the  firing  of  the  Blues  in 
College-green,  and  tbeir  subsequent  removal  from  the  city,  gave  the 
next  stage  the  character  of  power  and  vengeance.  [About  half-past  one 
the  worst  began ;  and  the  character  of  the  mob  was  much  changed. 
They  were  now  the  mob  of  destruction,  ¥rithout  personality.]  There 
was  a  method  in  their  proceedings,  which  showed  men  practised^  in 
villany  and  violence ;  and  a  compactness  in  their  movements,  which 
proved  that  they  were  under  leaders.  The  mob  that  committed  the 
mhseqnent  outrages  was  never  laige  altogether ;  and  in  its  parties,  as  at 


BIOOKAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THB   CLBB07.  291 

Edisvobd,- JoHN^  S.J.,  whose  real  name  was  Swabrick, 
bom  in  Lancashire  Ist  February,  1788 ;  joined  the  society  in 
1760;  deven  years  later  I  find  him  chaplain  to  the  Hon.* 
Mr.  Arondell,  at   Salisbury.     Soon  after  he  removed  to 

the  Bishop's-palacOy  it  was  a  small  number  that  did  the  mischief. 
When  the  greatest  outrages  began,  and  tlie  city  was  in  truth  surrendered 
to  them,  the  outside  number  was  from  fire  to  six  hundred.  I  saw  them 
myself,  soon  after  two  on  Sunday,  coming  down  Clare-street  (our  prin- 
cipal street)  just  after  they  had  broken  open  the  Bridewell,  and  then  on 
their  way  to  the  jail.  They  had  bludgeons  generally ;  and  some  had 
axes^  iron  palisades  (from  the  Mansion-house  probably),  and  sledge- 
hammers. All  that  1  noticed  were  the  dregs  of  the  city ;  and  a  la^ 
part  were  under  twenty  years  of  age.  Proceeding  as  they  now  did, 
without  the  slightest  opposition,  they  went  on  in  the  work  of  destruction 
(still  principaUy  of  pumic  property)  ;  but  others  pillaging  in  the  line  of 
Queen-square  from  the  Mayoralty,  till  about  ten,  I  think,  the  Custom- 
house (about  ten  houses  from  it)  was  on  fire ;  and  from  that  period  the 
reckless  destruction  of  private  pro]>erty  (ending  in  the  complete  burning 
of  two  sides  of  the  square,  which  is  about  560  feet  each  way),  and  the 
wildness  of  the  plunder,  were  horrid  and  infamous  in  the  extreme.  It 
is  my  deliberate  conviction,  that  a  firm,  prompt,  and  vigorous  magis- 
tracy miffht,  in  the  early  part  of  Sunday  morning,  by  requiring  (as 
yesterday)  the  constabulary  aid  of  the  inhabitants,  have  suppressed  the 
riot ;  and  that  even  when  ue  mob  had  become  inflamed  by  mastership 
and  liquor,  eighty  or  a  hundred  regular  soldiers,  or  four  times  that 
number  of  resolute  and  partially  armed  citizens,  might  have  prevented 
all  that  folUowed.    But  all  was  helpless  and  hopeless." 

I  have  nothing  to  correct  in  the  forgoing,  except  that  the  sledge- 
hammers with  which  the  jail  was  broken  open  were  got  from  a  neigh- 
bouring manufactory,  and  were  all  returned  except  two ;  and  nothing 
to  add,  in  this  connection,  but  that  the  attack  of  the  populace  on  the 
Blues  OB  Sunday  morning  seems  to  have  been  much  owing  to  the 
melancholy  event  the  preceding  midnight,  when  a  man  was  sabred  who 
was  in  no  wav  ooncemed  in  the  riot  at  the  Council  House,  though  he 
certainly  ought  not  to  have  been  in  the  streets.  But  I  proceed  to  other 
objects. 

it  was  with  sentiments  of  deep  indignation  that  I  read  the  commence- 
ment of  FeUx  Fa/rU^i  leading  article  on  Saturday  last,  with  its  com- 
mentary in  a  letter  signed  ^  M."  in  the  second  page  of  the  same,  inserted 
on  the  responsibility  of  the  acting  editor,  proceed  from  whatever  quarter 
it  may.  Many  of  your  readers  may  not  nave  seen  the  passages  in  the 
BfisM  Journal  to  which  I  refer ;  and  I  here  offer  them  to  their  perusal. 
When  thev  have  given  it,  I  expect  that  they  will  share  in  my  **  senti- 
ments of  deep  indignation." 

The  leading  article  of  Felix  Farl^  thus  begins  : — 

**  THB  THRSB   DAYS  OF   BRISTOL !  ! 

**  It  was  on  the  0th  day  of  September  last  year  that  Charles  Pinney, 
Esq.,  presided  at  a  public  meeting  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  tms 
city,  held  in  the  GuUdhall,  called  for  the  purpose  of  eonmtulating  the 
French  nation  upon  their  Revolution,  and  the  events  of  &b  Three  Dajrs 
of  July ! !  Strange  fatality ! ! — ^that  the  same  gentleman  should,  in  his 
capacity  as  Mayor  of  Bristol,  within  little  more  than  a  twelvemonth 
aiierwiurdsy  have  to  witness  the  first  act  of  the  tragedy  of  Reform,  if  not 

u  2 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLBBGT. 

Exeter,  where  he  cultivated  the  vineyard  with  exemplary 
zeal  and  charity,  and  made  himself  much  respected  by  his 
natural  bonhommie  and  frankness.     His  death  was  occa- 

of  Revolation,  which  has  been  since  commenced  in  his  own  country  1 1 
With  what  deeds  of  incendiarism  and  outrage,  characterized  by  pusil* 
lanimity  and  folly,  if  not  sanctioned  and  provoked  bv  some  branc&es  of 
the  constituted  authorities  of  the  realm,  tliis  tragedy  nas  been  perform- 
ing in  Bristol,  must  and  can  be  only  publicly  known  and  authenticated 
when  those  forms  of  legal  inquiry  have  been  gone  into,  which  it  is  the 
duty  of  his  Majesty's  ministers  without  an  bourns  delay  to  institute." 

This  is  in  the  third  page :  the  commentary  is  in  the  second,  and  in 
about  the  same  sized  type ;  it  caught  my  eye  before  the  leading  article. 
It  is  as  follows : — 

**  THS  TRREB   DATS. 

^  To  the  Editor  of  the  Bristol  Journal 

**  Sir, — ^Permit  me  to  congratulate  those  of  your  fellow-ciUzens  who 
met  last  year,  and  passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their  admiration  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Parisian  mob  during  the  celebrated  *  Three  Days»* 
and  which  they  transmitted  by  a  deputation  to  the  French  capitaL 
Permit  me  to  congratulate  those  gentlemen  that  they  have  had  their 
*  Three  Days,'  promoted  and  brought  about,  I  firmly  believe,  by  their 
conduct  and  that  of  their  party  here  and  elsewhere,  on  that  and  other 
occasions.** 

In  that  solemn  investigation  which  all  demand,  and  which  ought  to 
be  searching,  comprehensive,  and  complete,  let  the  censure  of  occasion- 
ing or  of  not  restraining  the  riots  of  Saturday,  and  the  horrid  outrages 
of  Sunday  and  of  Monday  morning,  rest  wherever  truth  requizes,  and 
in  the  degree  it  requires ;  but  those  who  know  Mr.  Pinney  will  not, 
whatever  may  prove  to  be  his  just  share^  forget  his  known  humanity 
an^  I  doubt  not^  religions  conscientiousness ;  nor  the  extraordinary 
position  in  which  he,  wnose  liberal  sentiments  are  on  record,  stood,  as 
associated  with  a  magistracy  whose  views  were,  on  almost  all  the  great 
topics  of  the  times,  diametrically  opposite  to  his  own.  But  the  very 
circumstance  that  such  an  investigation  is  called  for  by  all  parties,  and 
must  be  institnted,  ought  to  have  prevented  the  exasperating  imputa- 
tions of  FeHs  Farley  and  his  coadjutor  **  M." 

If  these  lines  should  reach  the  eye  of  Mr.  Pinney,  let  them  tell  him 
that  he  need  not  agmvate  his  present  emotions  by  reflecting  on  him- 
self for  the  honounble  share  he  took  in  the  most  honourable  meeting  I 
ever  witnessed  in  Bristol— eminently  marked  as  it  was  by  order,  by 
elevated  sentiments,  by  the  eloquence  of  truth  and  of  hope  for  human 
welfare,  and  by  the  noblest  kind  of  enthusiasm  ;  that  it  may  be  confi- 
dently affirmea  that  not  one  who  took  part  in  that  meeting,  by  speaking 
or  by  voting,  will  be  fotmd  to  have  haa  any  share  in  the  riots  ot  Satur- 
day ;  that  nothing  which  passed  there  had  a  tendency  to  produce  a 
spirit  of  riot  and  of  outrage ;  that  neither  in  respect  to  its  speakers,  nor  to 
its  proceedings,  nor  to  its  spirit,  nor  to  its  tendency,  had  it  the  remotest 
connection  with  the  recent  erils  ;  and  (what  may  outweigh  all  the 
imputations  of  those  who  haw  scattered  firebrands)  that  to  that  meeting, 
and  other  similar  expresrions  of  the  people  of  England,  may  be  mainly 
attributed  that  confidence  on  the  part  of  the  king  of  France,  and  the 
leading  men  of  that  country,  in  the  kindly  disposition  of  the  English 
nation  towards  them,  which  has  so  powerfully  aided  the  wise  and  tern- 


<  BIOOBAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE  CLEBOT.        298 

sioned  by  datching  the  jail  fever  in 'his  attendance  on  the 
prisoners  in  the  Old  Jail^  near  the  Castle  of  Exeter^  on 
Saturday,  20th  November,  1789.    In  examining  the  parish 

perate  course  of  Lord  Grey  and  his  coadjutors  in  their  efforts  to  preserve 
peace  between  the  two  greatest  nations  in  Europe.  To  such  meetings 
mav  be  greatly  attributed  the  jojrful  fact  that  we  are  now  at  peace  and 
in  nienaship  with  France,  and  with  her  aid  have  prevented  all  Europe 
from  being  again  involved  in  the  horrors  of  war. 

I  might  have  written  the  foregoing  even  if  Felix  Farley ,  as  editor,  and 
as  responsible  for  ^  M.**  had  stopped  here ;  but  to  **  M^'s"  charge  on  those 
frienos  of  liberty  and  humanity  who  met  to  express  their  sentiments  on 
the  French  Revolution — (I  am  happy  that  I  was  myself  at  my  post)— 
that  they  have  had  their  <*  Three  Days,"  promoted  and  brought  about 
by  their  conduct,  &c.,  is  appended  a  postscript,  marked  by  oase  and 
calumnious  insinuation,  ana  (in  the  circumstances  of  the  case)  by  deep 
malignity ;  the  more  aggravated  in  its  character,  because  the  humane 
and  honourable  individual  to  whom  it  alludes  is  so  noted  in  it,  that  there 
is  no  room  to  doubt  who  is  meant,  but  with  that  degree  of  caution  which 

Erevents  the  legal  chastisement  that  either  **  M."  or  FeUxFarl^  would 
ave  incurred.  The  postscript  is  as  follows  :— 
*^  P.S.  I  have  not  time  to  add  some  particulars  of  the  conduct  of  — « 
.  and  of  an  Irish  priest  of  the  name  of  ■  ,  on  this  melanchoy 
occasion,  in  front  of  the  Mansion  House  and  elsewhere,  but  shidl  hold 
them  in  reserve  to  be  communicated,  if  not  done  by  some  other  hand." 
There  are  but  two  Catholic  priests  in  Bristol ;  one  of  them  is  but 
recently  come  to  reside  here ;  the  other  is  well  known,  and  by  all  who 
know  him  r^arded  as  a  gentleman  of  true  respectability.  Neither  of 
them  is  an  Irishman ;  but  one  (with  a  name  of  Irish  associations)  waa^ 
during  the  fatal  afternoon,  and  during  a  larger  part  of  the  horrid  nighL 
much  in  front  of  the  Mansion  House  and  cJaewhere,  sometimes  attended 
by  his  colleague,  but  in  part  alone, — ^private  duties  requiring  the  attend- 
ance of  one,  and  the  one  most  and  longest  known  beine  likely  to  be  most 
usefiil.  This  individual's  name  is  uie  Rev.  Francis  Edgeworth.  I 
honoured  him  before ;  but  for  his  conduct  during  that  period  which 
succeeded  the  new  and  decided  stage  of  die  outrages  on  Sunday — ^the 
attack  on  the  Bridewell— I  honour  him  still  more  highly.  It  was  marked 
by  judgment,  by  promptness,  by  personal  courage,  by  humanitv,  and  by 
moral  nrmness.  If  four  or  five  men  could  have  come  forward  with  the 
ofier  which  he  made  at  three  o'clock  on  Sunday  afternoon,  a  force  would 
have  been  at  the  magistrates'  command  sufficient  to  repel  the  outrages ; 
for  he  and  his  colleague  pledged  themselves  to  them  to  find  immediately 
two  hundred  able  and  steady  men.  He  was  indeed  **  much  in  front  of 
the  Mansion  House  and  elsewhere ;"  for  he  was  in  the  scenes  of  devas- 
tation from  eight  on  Sunday  evening  till  half-past  Uiree  on  Monday 
morning.  During  that  period  he  was  engaged  in  endeavouring  (as 
opportunity jpresented)  to  check  the  progress  of  depredation,  and  in  pre- 
vailing on  aU  he  knew  to  desist  firom  &kinff  that  which  they  pleaded 
would  otherwise  be  soon  destroyed.  Wlien  he  saw  reason  to  uink  that 
the  Custom  House  would  be  attacked,  he  obtained  admission  from  the 
Kin^-street  side,  and  told  one  of  iiie  official  gentlemen  that  his  presence 
would  prevent  any  of  the  poor  Irish  from  assaulting  the  premises,  and 
offered  that  negative  assistance.  His  presence  and  assistance  were 
tliankfully  received,  and  he  continued  below  for  about  three  quarters  of 
an  hour,  till  few  remained  belonging  to  the  place,  and  in  less  than  a 


294  mOORAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THB   CLSBOY. 

register  of  St.  Olave's  Chureh^  in  which  he  was  buried^  I  find 
''  Rev.  John  Edisford,  minister  of  the  Catholics  in  this  inty, 
was  buried  on  the  24th  of  Noyember^  1789/' 

Ellis,  Philip  Michael,  O.S.B.,  Bight  Rev. — ^This  third 
son  of  Rev.  John  Ellis,  rector  of  Waddesden,  Bucks,  by  his 
wife  Susannah  Welbore,  whilst  a  pupil  at  Westminster 
School,  was  called  to  the  Catholic  faith  and  to  the  grace  of 
religion  in  St.  Gregory's  Convent,  Douay,  where  he  was  pro« 
fessed  30th  Novemoer,  1670,  let.  eighteen. 

quarter  of  an  hour  witnessed  the  asBSult  of  the  mob,  followed  by  the 
speedy  destruction  of  the  building.  **  Before  I  Quitted  the  square,**  he 
says,  in  a  letter  with  which,  at  my  request^  he  has  favoured  me,  ^  I  looked 
on  all  sides  for  any  of  the  poor  Irish.  I  saw  none  of  them  but  as  spec* 
tators.  Those  1  earnestly,  and  I  believe  suooessfully,  exhorted  to  return 
to  their  homes.  But  now  spirits  and  wine  were  the  object  of  fierce  con- 
test in  various  parts  of  the  square.  I  had  no  hope  that  my  presence 
could  avail  any  longer.  Several  gentlemen  had  been  struck  and  robbed." 
I  pass  by  other  particulars,  but  must  add  one  extract  which  gives  a 
touching  picture  of  the  true  Christian  pastor.  I  belong  not  to  Mr.  Edge- 
worth's  communion ;  but  I  believe  that  the  Church  of  Christ  exists 
amonff  all  denominations ;  and  of  that  Church  he  is  one : — 

"  The  Monday  I  spent  mostly,  as  did  my  friend  Mr.  O.  F."  (the  Rev. 
O.  Farrell,  his  colleague),  ^  in  visiting  all  the  streets  and  lanes  with 
which  we  are  well  acquainted,  and  in  almost  every  house  and  every 
room,  eaq>laining  to  the  poor  creatures  the  danger  of  even  standinjg  at 
their  doors,  much  more  of  Quitting  their  homes,  during  the  coming  night. 
We  warned  them,  too,  of  uie  crime  of  keeping  any  part  of  the  plunder ; 
and,  as  we  knew  they  had  been  induced  to  receive  it,  we  urged  them  to 
place  it  wherever  the  mayor  should  direct  Some  few  did  this  ;  many 
did  not,  or  at  least  hesitated,  until  the  active  force  of  constables,  of  Mon- 
day afternoon's  formation,  surprised  them  in  the  possession  of  stolen 
property,  and  left  no  time  for  voluntary  restitution.*^ 

Many,  I  doubt  not,  in  the  horrid  night  of  Sunday,  showed  the  noble 
qualities  which  marked  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Edgeworth  ;  I  shall  rejoice 
to  hear  that  some  surpassed  him  in  the  efforts  for  useful  service.  If 
^*  M."  has  a  mind  capable  of  generous  feeling,  I  have  heaped  coals  of 
fire  on  his  head. 

As  to y  the  other  person  darkly  hinted  at  in  the  postscript, 

if  by  this  is  designated  one  of  tnose  to  whom  **  M.'s  "  letter  refers,  and 
who  also,  at  intervals^  was  much  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Mansion 
House  between  seven  on  Saturday  evening  and  half-past  three  on  Sun- 
day afternoon,  I  have  the  power  of  staUng,  in  his  benalf,  that  whatever 
he  did  during  the  late  melancholy  period  was  in  the  discharge  of  public 
or  private  duty  ;  that  for  the  latter  he  had,  about  three,  the  thanks  of 
magistrates  in  their  room  at  Guildhall ;  and  that  he  has  the  great  satis- 
faction, in  the  review  of  his  course  since  the  Three  Days  of  Paris  (and  he 
mav  say  of  his  public  course  generally),  of  perceiving  that  every  step 
he  has  taken  has  been  designed,  and  (as  he  believes)  has  tended,  to  pro- 
mote the  good  order,  the  improvement,  and  the  general  welfare  of  society ; 
and  that  there  is  not  one  which,  in  similar  circumstances,  he  would  not 
readily  take  again.  Publioola. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLBBOT.  296 

The  editor  of  the  Ellis  Correspondence,  vol.  i.  p.  18, 
ignorantly  asserts  that ''  Philip  was  kidnapped  by  the  Jesuits, 
and  brought  up  by  them  in  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  in 
their  College  of  St.  Omer.''  After  dul^  qualifying  himself 
for  the  ministry,  he  was  sent  to  labour  in  the  English  vine- 
yard. His  abilities  recommended  him  to  the  notice  of  King 
James  II.,  who  appointed  him  one  of  his  chaplains  and 
preachers.  Six  of  his  sermons,  the  first  delivered  at  Windsor, 
the  rest  at  St.  James's,  were  printed.  When  Pope  Innocent 
XI.,  on  30th  January,  1688,  requested  that  his  Majesty 
would  nominate  three  fit  subjects  to  fill  the  newly-constituted 
Yicariats,  the  Western  Midland  and  Northern  (for  the 
Southern  or  Eastern  was  to  be  reserved  for  Bishop  Ley- 
bourne,  bishop  of  Adrumetum,  formerly  president  of  Douay 
Coll^e,*^  and  who  for  the  last  three  years  had  governed  the 
whole  of  England),  Dom  Ellis,  then  aged  thirty-six,  was 
selected  for  the  Western  Yicariat,  and  was  consecrated 
bishop  on  Sunday  6th  May,  1688,  at  St.  James's  (where  the 
king  had  founded  a  convent  of  fourteen  Benedictine  monks) 
by  the  title  of  Aureliopolis.  In  the  second  week  of  July  the 
new  prelate  confirmed  a  considerable  number  of  youths,  some 
of  them  were  converts,  in  the  new  chapel  of  the  Savoy.  In 
his  lordship's  letter  to  his  eldest  brother,  John,t  dated  firom 
St.  James's  26th  August,  1688,  he  describes  the  uneasiness 
of  the  court  at  the  preparations  making  in  Holland  by 
William  Prince  of  Orange  (Ellis  Correspondence,  vol.  ii. 
p.  145).  I  doubt  if  this  Vicar  Apostolic  ventured  to  visit 
his  diocese.  At  the  eruption  of  the  Revolution  in  November 
that  year,  he  was  arrested  and  committed  to  Newgate;  but 
was  soon  restored  to  liberty.  Foreseeing  little  prospect  of 
serving  the  cause  of  religion  in  such  turbulent  times,  he  left 
England  for  St.  Germain's,  and  after  staying  some  time  at 
the  court  of  his  exiled  sovereign,  obtained  permission  to  visit 

*  On  hiB  arrival  in  London,  the  king  provided  him  with  suitable 
apartments  in  Whitehall,  with  a  pension  of  j£l,000.  Mr.  Macanlay 
(Hist.  England,  vol.  ii,  p.  21)  will  bave  it  that  Bishop  Ley  bourne  was 
A  Dominican/    Obiit  1703,  est.  eighty-three. 

t  This  John  became  Under-SecreUry  of  State  to  King  William  III., 
and  died  s^.  in  London  in  1738,  »t.  ninety-three.  The  second  brother, 
Sir  William  Ellis,  Knight,  was  Secretary  of  State  to  his  exiled  sove- 
reign, and  died  at  Rome  in  173i,  also  without  issue.  The  younger 
brother  to  Philip,  viz.  Welbore  Ellis,  was  made  Bishop  of  Killala  in 
1705,  and  translated  to  the  valuable  See  of  Meath  in  1731 ;  he  died  in 
January,  173i,  leaving  a  family  ennobled  with  the  titles  of  Mendip, 
Clifden,  and  Dover.  The  next  brother,  Samuel,  was  marshal  of  the 
King's  Bench  ;  and  Charles^  the  youngest  brother,  took  orders  in  the 
Established  Church. 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST   OF  THE   CLEROT. 

the  eternal  city.  In  1693  Pope  Innocent  XII.  made  him  an 
assistant  prelate  to  the  throne :  and  six  years  later,  says 
Weldon,  "  on  the  feast  of  St.  Louis^  he  snng  the  High  Mass 
in  the  French  church  at  Rome  before  many  cardinals,  invited 
and  received  by  the  Cardinal  de  Bouillon.  The  prince  of 
Monaco,  ambassador  of  France,  being  then  incognito^  assisted 
in  a  tribune."  Resigning  his  Western  Vicariat,*  his  Holi- 
ness Clement  XI.  prdTerred  him  to  the  vacant  see  of  Segni 
in  Campagna  di  Roma  in  1708.  There  he  founded  a  semi- 
nary, over  which  he  watched  with  parental  zeal  and  solicitude. 
In  November,  1710,  he  held  a  synod  in  the  choir  of  his 
cathedral^  which  was  hung  with  i^ed  silk  for  the  occasion ; 
about  seventy  of  his  clergy  attended,  all  of  whom  he  enter- 
tained with  generous  hospitality.  The  acts  of  this  synod 
were  much  approved  of,  and  were  ordered  to  be  printed  and 
published  by  the  above-mentioned  Pope.  In  addition  to  many 
meritorious  deeds,  he  substantially  repaired  and  embellished 
his  episcopal  palace;  to  his  cathedral  he  left  a  splendid 
mitre  and  some  costly  vestments ;  but  the  bulk  of  Ins  pro- 
perty he  bequeathed  to  his  beloved  seminary.  A  dropsy  of 
the  chest  carried  him  off  on  16th  November,  1726,  set. 
seventy-four,  and  his  honoured  remains  were  deposited  in  the 
centre  of  the  Seminary  Church.  Pope  Leo  XII.  kindly 
gave  Bishop  Ellis's  library  and  ring  to  Bishop  Baines  for  the 
use  of  his  successors  in  the  Western  District.  I  must 
refer  the  reader  to  the  Rambler  of  April  1851,  p.  351,  for  an 
account  of  the  sermons  of  this  eminent  divine. 

A  beautiful  portrait  of  the  bishop,  engraved  by  Meyer,  is 
prefixed  to  **  the  EUis  Correspondence,'*  edited  by  the  Hon. 
George  Agar  Ellis,  in  two  vols,  octavo,  1829. 

Elmer,  Jocelin,  O.S.B.,  a  native,  I  understand,  of  the  West 
of  England,  although  I  cannot  discover  the  precise  locality, 
was  elected  prior  of  St.  Laurence's  Convent  at  Dieulwart, 
near  Verdun,  in  the  diocese  of  Toul  and  Province  of  Lorraine, 
at  the  first  general  chapter  holden  at  St.  Andrew's  House, 
Paris,  Ist  June,  1617;  and  his  system  of  government  gave 
such  satisfaction,  that  he  was  re-elected  on  2nd  July,  1629, 
for  twelve  consecutive  years.    According  to  Weldon,  he  died 

*  I  have  seen  in  a  M.S.,  written  more  than  a  century  ago,  that  when 
the  bishop  quitted  England,  and  could  not  presently  return,  he  applied 
for  a  coaoiutor  to  act  for  him  until  his  majesty's  restoration,  which  it 
was  hoped  would  be  no  distant  event.  He  was  told  either  to  retam  to 
the  Western  Vicariat  or  resign.  He  preferred  the  latter.  After  some  years 
Dr.  Andrew  GifFard  was  selected  by  the  title  of  Bishop  of  Centuric,  but 
declined,  on  the  plea  of  old  age.  Obiit  14th  September,  1714  ;  buried  at 
St.  Pancras. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY.  297 

on  Ist  July,  1651,  "famous  for  his  holy  and  severe  life,  by 
which  he  gave  great  edification  everywhere/' 

English,  Ferdinand  Edward,  D.D.,  son  of  John  English, 
of  Bath,  Esq.,  by  his  wife  Frances  {n£e  Huddleston),  born 
9th  June,  1819 ;  went  to  Eome  at  the  age  of  twenty ;  was 
made  D.D.  in  August,  1843,  and  in  December  the  same  year 
was  ordained  priest,  and  appointed  vice-rector  of  the  English 
College  under  Dr.  Baggs.  In  1846  he  revisited  England  for 
some  months;  and  soon  after  his  return  went  on  a  mission 
to  Malta.  In  1848  he  finally  left  Bome  on  account  of  his 
health,  and  was  appointed  by  Bishop  Ullathome  to  the  mis- 
sion of  Cannington.  In  1850  his  present  Holiness  conferred 
upon  him  the  distinction  of  Cameriere  di  onore;  and  in  1852 
he  was  installed  a  canon  of  Clifton  CathedraL  But  his 
honours  cannot  stop  here. 

English,  Lewis  Bernard,  D.D.,  a  brother  worthy  of  the 
preceding ;  bom  in  1826.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  went 
to  the  English  College  at  Rome,  and  five  years  later,  in  1850, 
was  ordained  priest;  and  received  the  doctor's  cap  and  the 
appointment  of  vice-rector  of  the  college  under  Dr.  Grant, 
now  bishop  of  Southwark.  In  1852  his  Holiness  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  Collegio  Pio  at  Rome,  which,  though  a 
distinct  establishment  from  the  Old  English  College,  having 
its  own  superior  and  different  regulations,  is  for  greater 
convenience  brought  under  the  same  roof.  Crescat  in  mille 
millia  ! 

Errington,  George,  Most  Rev.,  bom  at  Clintz,  near 
Richmond,  in  Yorkshire,  about  the  Feast  of  the  Exaltation 
of  the  Holy  Cross,  in  September,  1804;  was  educated  at 
Ushaw,  and  formed  one  of  the  colony  of  students  to  open 
the  Old  English  College  at  Rome  in  1818,  which  Pope 
Pius  YII.,  in  his  zeal  for  religion,  had  made  over  to  the 
secular  clergy.  Since  that  era,  it  is  wonderful  to  enumerate 
the  host  of  leamed,  saintly,  and  efficient  ecclesiastics  that 
have  issued  from  its  inclosure.  Amongst  the  most  honoured 
names,  is  the  subject  of  this  memoir.  Distinguished  by 
virtue  and  erudition,  after  receiving  the  priesthood  and  the 
degree  of  D.D.,  he  returned  to  his  native  country.  For  some 
time  he  presided  over  the  studies  in  St.  Mary's  College, 
Oscott;  then  St.  Nicholas's  Chapel,  Liverpool,  had  the 
benefit  of  his  pastoral  zeal ;  but  here  his  stay  was  short,  for 
his  services  were  required  at  Salford,  where  he  completed 
and  opened  the  noble  Church  of  St.  John,  which  stands  an 
eternal  monument  of   his    taste    and  piety.      When  the 


298  BIOOAAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THE   CLSSGY. 

Uerarchy  was  established  for  England  at  Michaelmas^  1850, 
the  energetic  Br.  Errington  was  thought  the  fittest  to  reTive 
and  revigorate  the  poverty-stricken  and  'forlorn  condition 
of  the  faithful  dispersed  over  Dorset,  Devon^  and  Corn- 
wall, which  was  assigned  for  the  diocese  of  Plymouth.  He 
saw  nothing  but  labour  before  him;  but  he  knew  it  was 
the  work  of  God^  and  he  cheerfully  submitted  to  the  labour 
of  the  yoke  and  burden.  On  the  25th  July,  1851,  he  was 
consecrated  bishop  of  Plymouth,  in  his  Church  of  St.  John, 
by  Cardinal  Wiseman,  together  with  his  old  college  friend. 
Dr.  William  Turner,  who  fortunately,  as  bishop  of  Salford, 
found  a  cathedral  church  already  prepared  for  him.  Our 
new  prelate  hastened  to  his  diocese.  It  was  amusing  to  see 
in  our  provincial  journals  what  rumours  were  rife  against 
him, — tiiat  a  protest  was  to  be  handed  to  him  against  his 
"  assumption ''  of  the  title, — that  the  parsons  were  on  the 
qui  vive, — that  a  regular,  formal,  and  defiant  challenge 
would  be  given,  when  he  came  to  discuss  his  principles,  &c. 
(See  Devonport  Journal  7th  August,  1851,  &c.)  But  this 
bubble  of  excitement  soon  burst,  and  John  Bull  awoke  from 
his  dream  about  '^  Papal  aggression,^'  and  recovered  his 
good-humour. 

On  reaching  his  diocese  in  August,  the  good  biahop,  at  the 
invitation  of  the  late  lamented  Edmund  P.  R.  Bastard,  Esq., 
took  up  his  residence  at  Kitley  until  October,  when  he  fixed 
himself  at  St.  Mary's,  Stonehouse,  and  won  the  respect  of 
the  public  by  his  affability,  business-like  habits,  self-denying 
character,  and  unobtrusive  conduct.  He  was  indefatigable 
in  visiting  every  part  of  his  diocese,  in  attending  the  confer- 
ences of  the  clergy,  and  the  meetings  of  his  chapter.  In 
1852  he  gave  a  spiritual  retreat  to  his  clergy  at  Ugbrooke, 
and  there  also  held  a  synod  on  14th,  15th,  and  16th 
February,  1854.  It  is  true  to  say  that  he  infused  a  new 
spirit  in  his  diocese ;  and  I  may  apply  to  him  the  words  of 
Job  (chapter  iv.),  ^'Ecce,  docuisti  multos,  et  manus  lassas 
roborasti ;  vacillantes  confirmaverunt  sermones  tui,  et  genua 
trementia  confortasti.'' 

Cardinal  Wiseman,  archbishop  of  Westminster,  requiring 
a  coadjutor,  obtained  of  Pope  Pius  IX.,  that  Dr.  Errington 
might  be  his  associate.  The  necessary  bulls,  creating  his  lord- 
ship archbishop  of  Trebizonde,  bear  date  30th  March,  1855. 

In  consequence  of  the  vacancy  in  the  see  of  Clifton  by 
the  death  of  Bishop  Burgess,  27th  November,  1854,  his 
Grace  has  been  filling  for  some  time  the  additional  office  of 
Apostolic  Administ^ttor  of  that  diocese  also.  To  use  the 
words  of  the  old    registrar  of  St.  Alban's  Abbey :    "  Tibi 


BIOOBAFHICAL   LIST   OF   THB   CLBROT.  299 

igitnr  ea  sit  meroes^  quee  dari  solet  illis^  qui  ad  honorem 
Ecclesiffi  laudabiliter  student  opera  in  temporibus  snia" 

'^Facilis  minimorum  heec  vota  dientum  suscipe.  Dent 
longse  superi  tibi  tempora  vits  canitiemque  sacram  et  plenos 
virtutibus  annos/' 


Fairfax,  Thomas,  S.J. — ^This  experienced  priest  and 
eminent  oriental  scholar,  often  passed  by  the  name  of 
Beckett ;  he  was  appointed,  in  the  reign  of  James  II.,  to  a 
Professorship  in  Magdalen  College,  O^ord ;  but  amidst  the 
fanatical  violence  of  the  Revolution,  narrowly  escaped  with 
his  life.  In  1 701  he  was  living  as  procurator  in  London. 
In  1710,  I  believe,  he  was  residing  at  Wardour.  In  the 
Annual  Letters  of  that  year  I  read,  "  eminet  zelo  et  fructu 
inter  alios  P.  Thomas  Fairfax.^'  I  meet  him  there  again, 
4th  April,  1711,  when  Bishop  Bonaventure  Giffard,  of 
London  (who  had  the  charge  of  the  Western  District  also, 
from  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Ellis  imtil  the  appointment 
of  Bishop  Prichard),  visited  Wardour.  He  is  mentioned  by 
the  late  Dr.  Kirk  in  vol.  ii.  of  the  "  Catholicon,"  p.  131. 
His  death  occurred  on  2nd  March,  1816,  aged  sixty. 

Falkener,  John,  S.J.,  of  Dorsetshire.  —  This  learned 
missioner  was  banished  the  realm  in  1618,  but  returned  to 
his  apostolic  labours,  and  resigned  his  soul  to  God  on  7th 
July,  1656,  set.  eighty-three,  soc.  fifty-two.  I  have  described 
his  works  in  page  88  of  the  Collectanea  S.J. 

Fanning,  John. — ^This  able  and  zealous  ecclesiastic  was 
bom  near  Thurles,  co.  Tipperary,  on  10th  November, 
1805.  After  completing  a  course  of  humanities  and  philo- 
sophy in  his  native  country,  he  proceeded  to  Prior-park, 
14th  September,  1836,  to  pursue  his  theological  studies,  and 
there  was  promoted  to  holy  orders. 

His  first  mission  was  Taunton,  on  which  he  entered, 
Saturday,  16th  October,  1841.  Under  his  charge  his  fiock 
considerably  increased  in  number  and  merit.  To  oblige  his 
Right  Rev.  friend.  Bishop  Hendren,  he  consented  to  sepa- 
rate himself  from  his  attached  congregation,  and  to  expose 
himself  as  a  forlorn  hope  to  recover  the  misapplied  funds  of 
the  well-founded  but  impoverished  mission  of  Tiverton. 
Here  he  displayed  his  characteristic  tact  and  energy,  from 
the  Advent  of  1848  to  the  Advent  of  1850,  when  he  was 
allowed  to  return  to  the  scene  of  his  first  labours,  to  the 
delight   of   his   numerous   acquaintance.      But  trials  now 


800  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE    CLERGY. 

awaited  him  with  the  appointment  of  the  new  bishop^ 
Dr.  Burgess^  who  made  a  demand  of  £85  from  the  salary  of 
Taunton^  the  interest  of  moneys  supposed  to  have  been 
advanced  by  Bishop  Collingridge  to  the  place  some  twenty 
years  before  Mr.  Fanning^'s  appointment  to  it.  To  such  a 
deduction  Mr.  Fanning  veiy  properly  demurred.  The  bishop 
then  offered  him  an  exeat  into  the  Midland  or  Birmingham 
diocese^  but  not  into  the  Plymouth.  Finding  that  he  could 
not  remain  with  any  comfort  where  he  was^  and  that 
Dr.  UUathome,  who,  whilst  Vicar  Apostolic  of  the  Western 
District,  before  his  promotion  to  the  see  of  Birmingham,  had 
always  befriended  him,  and  now  offered  to  receive  him,  he 
bade  adieu  to  his  beloved  flock  on  Sexagesima  Sunday, 
30th  January,  1858.  His  sorrowing  congregation,  on  this 
parting,  presented  him  with  a  purse  of  sovereigns  and  the 
following  address. 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  have  heard  with  grief  and  dismay 
that  you  are  to  be  separated  from  us.  Since  you  became 
our  pastor^  on  16th  October,  1841,  you  have  been  all  to  all, 
— enlightening,  counselling,  edifying,  and  consoling  us.  The 
prospects  of  religion  have  wonderfully  brightened  here;  for 
you  have  conciliated  the  good  opinion  of  our  brethren,  of 
every  creed  and  party,  by  the  urbanity  of  your  manners, 
and  the  benevolence  of  your  character.  We  had  hoped 
that  you  would  have  been  spared  to  us  for  many  years  to 
come ;  and  our  only  consolation  is,  that  you  will  be  received 
with  open  arms  in  another  diocese.  Though  absent,  you 
will  ever  live  in  our  hearts  and  memories. 

"  Be  pleased,  reverend  father,  to  accept  the  accompanying 
tribute  of  our  gratitude ;  and  be  assured,  that  our  prayers 
shall  never  cease  for  your  prosperity.  You  will  leave  us 
your  cherished  blessing,  and  we  feel  confident  that  you  will 
be  mindful  of  us,  your  now  sorrowful  and  very  attached 
children  in  Jesus  Christ,  when  you  stand  at  His  holy  altar. 

"  Taunton,  30th  January,  1858.'* 

My  reverend  Mend  was  immediately  appointed  to  the 
vacant  mission  of  Chipping  Norton,  co.  Oxford;  but  his 
good  bishop,  on  80th  June,  the  same  year  (1858),  transferred 
him  to  the  important  station  at  Wolverhampton,  co.  Staf* 
ford,  where  hQ  opened,  on  Ist  May,  1855,  the  noble  Church 
of  SS.  Mary  and  John,  with  unprecedented  solemnity,  and 
where  he  continues  to  labour  with  apostolic  zeal  and  success, 
especially  amongst  the  poor  representatives  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Farmer,  alias  Yenner,  Amandus,  O.S.B. — ^AU  that  I 
can  glean  of  this  good  monk  of  Dieulwart  Convent  is  from 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST   OF  THE   CLEBOT.  801 

Weldon's  Notes^  p.  138^  to  the  effect  that  he  was  a  native  of 
DevoBi  a  sedulous  missioner^  and  a  great  sufferer  in  long  im- 
prisonments and  other  persecutions  patiently  endured  for  the 
faith,  and  that  he  died  in  London  10th  November,  O.S.,  1628. 

Fenn,  John,  bom  at  Montacute,  co.  Somerset;  quitted 
England  soon  after  the  accession  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and 
for  forty  years  was  chaplain  to  the  English  Augustinian  Nuns 
at  Louvain.  Full  of  days  and  merits,  he  ce^ed  to  live  on 
27th  December,  1615. 

Fbnn,  James,  brother  of  John  aforesaid,  a  priest  of  pro- 
found wisdom  and  piety,  and  a  special  lover  of  holy  poverty. 
He  cultivated  the  vineyard  chiefly  in  his  native  county, 
where  he  reconciled  several  persons  of  distinction  to  the 
Catholic  Church.  F.  Warforid  assures  us  that  ''he  was 
apprehended  in  the  public  road  near  the  house  of  a  Catholic 
gentleman,  named  Oiles  Bernard,  who  suffered  much  perse- 
cution on  that  account.  This  house  was  near  Sydney  House, 
Lqpdon.''  He  was  butchered  at  Tyburn  12th  February, 
1584.     See  Challoner's  Memoirs. 

Fenn,  Robert,  brother  to  the  two  preceeding  worthies,  of 
Douay  College,  that  storehouse  of  learned  and  pious  champions 
of  orthodoxy.  Dr.  Bridgewater  in  the  "  Concertatio,"  re- 
cords how  constantly  he  had  endured  imprisonment,  torture, 
and  banishment  in  testimony  of  the  truth. 

Ferousson,  Thomas  Tierney,  D.D.,  born  of  a  good  family 
17th  November,  1818.  He  was  destined  for  the  army — ^was 
duly  appointed  to  a  regiment  serving  in  the  East-Indies,  and 
actually  reached  Calcutta  to  join  it,  when  his  elder  brother, 
an  officer  in  the  same,  was  carried  off  by  death.  The  shock 
of  losing  him  at  such  a  moment  caused  him  to  throw  up 
his  commission,  which,  by  dint  of  family  influence,  was 
given  to  his  younger  brother,  William,  who  also  died  of 
fever  six  weeks  after  joining  the  regiment.  The  subject  of 
this  memoir  proceeded  to  Sidney  with  the  intention  of 
returning  to  his  family;  but  being  introduced  into  some 
Catholic  society,  studied  our  doctrines,  and  was  reconciled 
to  the  Church  in  the  course  of  the  year  1888.  Repair- 
ing to  Rome  he  was,  at  his  earnest  request,  admitted  a 
student  in  the  College  of  the  Propaganda.  By  his  ecclesias- 
tical fervor  of  spirit  and  assiduity  in  study,  he  won  the 
esteem  of  his  rector,  F.  Grassi,  and  of  Cardinal  Fransoni, 
who  promoted  him  to  subdeaconship,  on  Tuesday  19th  March, 
1844,  in  the  College  Church ;  to  the  rank  of  deacon  at  St. 
John  Lateran's  on  Saturday  23rd  March  the  same  year;  and 


802  BIOGRAPB1CAL  LIST  OF   THS   CLSEGT. 

to  the  priesthood,  two  days  later,  by  Bishop  Baggs;  and  the 
friendly  oardinal,  as  a  mark  of  his  special  approbation,  re- 
quired that  he  should  receive  the  ring  and  cap  of  D.D.  before 
he  quitted  the  college.  He  had  proposed  to  return  to  Sidney 
to  difiFiise  the  light  of  faith,  which  there  had  first  beamed  on 
his  soul;  but  the  cardinal  advised  him  to  accompany  to 
England  Dr.  Baggs,  who  had  been  appointed  to  the  charge  of 
the  Western  Vicariat,  vacant  since  the  death  of  Bishop  Baines. 
He  reached  Prior-park  with  his  lordship  on  80th  May,  1844, 
After  remaining  there  for  some  time,  the  bishop  sent  him  for 
three  months  to  Shortwood ,  and  thence  to  Tawstock,  where 
he  arrived  on  6th  October,  1844.  Here  he  introduced  vocal 
and  instrumental  music,  and  incr^ised  his  congregation  by 
his  zeal,  and  won  the  esteem  of  the  neighbourhood  by  his 
polished  address.  But  his  letters  to  me  and  others  showed 
that  he  was  dissatisfied  and  uneomfbrtabJe  and  unhappy. 
He  quitted  in  disgust  during  the  Christmas  holidays  of  1845. 
Proceeding  to  London,  he  accepted  the  situation  oif  secretary 
to  the  Catholic  Association,  and  when  that  was  broken  jip,  , 
took  charge  of  the  small  congregation  at  Fairford,  co. 
Gloucester.  He  was  then  ofifered  the  incumbency  of  the 
Fulham  mission,  the  church  of  which,  under  the  patronage  of 
St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury,  had  been  commenced  by  his 
relative,  Mrs.  Bowden.  Bishop  Griffiths  laid  its  first  stone 
on  16th  June,  1847,  and  it  was  opened  on  80th  May,  1848. 
And  there  my  amiable  friend  is  happy  in  his  laborious 
duties. 

**  Sems  in  codlmn  redeas ;  diuque  Ictus  intersb.'' 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  regret  to  find  that  Dr.  Fergusson 
has  been  compelled  to  resign  his  mission,  in  consequence  of 
ill-health,  on  Bth  October,  1856. 

FERaALL,(y,  Patrick, O.S.F.,  son  of  Patrick''^  and  Margaret 
O'Ferrall,  born  in  Bristol  2l8t  November,  1796,  and  bap- 
tized  on  23rd  December  by  F.  Robert  Plowden ;  in  early  life 
joined  the  holy  order  of  St.  Francis,  and  eventually  became 
president  of  the  academy  at  Baddesley  Green,  between  Bir- 
mingham and  Warwick,  which  had  been  kept  up  by  his 
province  for  about  a  century.  This  having  been  dissolved  in 
1829,  Bishop  Baines  gladly  availed  himself  of  the  services  of 
this  able  and  worthy  son  of  St.  Francis,  and  on  24th  De« 
oember,  1830,  attached  him  to  St.  Joseph^s  Chapel,  in  his 

•  From  the  Register  of  Baptisms  at  St.  Joseph's,  Bristol,  '*  1706, 
21  Nov.,  medio  post  pomeridisnum,  natns  Patricius  filius,  Patricii  et 
Margarita  Farrel.  Baptixatus  23.  Susceperunt  Patricias  Dillon  et 
Maria  Lee." 


BIOOBAPHICAL  LIST   09   THB   CLBROT.  808 

native  city.  Here  lie  laboured  with  the  seal  of  an  apostle. 
On  disoovering  that  the  noble  religious  edifice  in  the  open 
part  of  the  Qqslj,  in  Bristol^  erected  at  the  expense  of 
£15^000,  measuring  90  feet  in  lengthy  42  in  breadth^  with  a 
transept  of  70  feet^  and  opened  but  in  1840^  was  to  be  sold 
for  £5^000  in  1843;  that  the  purchaser  would  have  to  pay 
£500  on  the  1st  of  June  that  year,  and  on  Ist  of  September 
£2^000,  the  rest  to  remain  in  mortgage;  considering  that 
such  an  acquisition  would  be  honourable  to  the  Catholie 
name^  and  highly  calculated  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  innumerable  souls,  he  boldly  bid  for  it,  and  won  the 
prize.  It  seemed  already  prepared  for  Catholic  worship; 
and  on  5th  of  July  the  same  year  this  beautiful  church,  built 
by  the  Irvingites,  forsooth  "  for  all  the  members  of  the  one 
holy,  catholic,  apostolic  Church,''  its  title  being  changed  for 
St.  Mary's,  was  solemnly  dedicated  by  Bishop  Baines  on  5th 
tTuly,  1843.  It  was  the  last  public  effort  of  that  eminent 
prelate,  for  he  was  found  a  corpse  the  very  next  morning. 
Most  properly  F.  O'Ferrall  was  installed  the  first  rector  of 
St.  Mary's,  and  I  cordiaUy  hope  that  one  so  deserving  of 
religion,  and  who  requires  an  assistant  in  his  extensive 
mission,  will  meet  the  generous  support  of  the  public. 

FiTz- James,  Nicholas,  O.S.B.,  bom  at  Kedlinch,  co. 
Somerset ;  professed  on  15th  May,  1608,  and  for  some  years 
filled  the  office  of  Master  of  Novices.  The  venerable  man, 
at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  died  at  Stourton,  Wilts,  on  16th 
May,  1652. 

Fisher,  Chables. — In  page  44  of  Fart  I.  I  have  spoken 
oL  this  talented  and  wayward  priest.  He  was  born  at 
Teignmouth,  26th  November,  1806,  and  was  the  only  son  of 
Captain  Fisher,  by  his  wife.  Miss  Braham.  This  captain's 
widow  subsequently  married  Joseph  Garrow,  of  the  Brad- 
dons,  Torquay,  Esq.  After  a  preparatory  education  at  the 
Charter-House,  Charles  was  sent  to  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  with  the  view  of  becoming  a  minister  of  the 
Established  Church.  As  he  told  me  himself,  doubts  of  the 
truth  of  Protestantism  here  grew  upon  him  in  1827 ;  he 
discovered  amongst  Catholics,  he  believed,  a  manifest  supe^ 
riority  in  probity  and  integrity  of  morals,  and  aware  that 
Christ's  Church  was  to  be  recognized  by  its  firuits,  he 
hastened  to  join  the  Catholic  communion.  Proceeding  to 
Prior-park,  then  recently  opened,  he  commenced  a  course  of 
ecclesiastical  studies  to  qualify  himself  for  holy  orders. 
Knowing,  as  I  did,  his  impetuosity  and  excitability  of  tern* 
perament,    I  thought  it  a  duty  to  caution  Bishop  Baines 


804  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THC   CLBRGT. 

against  too  easily  admitting  him  to  the  subdiaconate ;  he 
acquiesced  in  my  opinion :  and  sure  enough  he  broke  off  from 
this  bishop^  quitted  Prior-park  abruptly^  and  repaired  to 
St.  Edmund's  College.  There  he  conducted  himself,  how- 
ever, with  so  much  propriety,  that  he  gained  the  good 
graces  of  Bishop  Bramston,  who  ordained  him  subdeacon  in 
the  Advent  of  1831.  Soon  after  this,  he  sought  a  reconcilia- 
tion with  Bishop  Baines,  and,  having  obtained  it,  returned 
to  Prior-park,  and  showed  such  excellent  dispositions,  that 
his  Lordship,  in  the  Advent  of  1832,  made  him  deacon,  and 
on  Saturday  in  Pentecost  week,  1st  June,  1833,  promoted 
him  to  priesthood.  The  good  bishop,  on  the  following 
Monday,  3rd  June,  wrote  to  me  as  follows :  "  I  trust  he  will 
turn  out  well.  He  will  not  be  allowed  to  go  out  for  a 
considerable  time,  his  divinity,  &c.,  being  unfinished.''  But 
he  was  unfortunately  allowed  almost  immediately  to  go  on 
the  Talacre  mission,  whence  he  was  recalled  to  the  college 
for  his  eccentricities;  then  he  was  transferred,  in  the  middle 
of  November,  1833,  to  Chepstow,  where  he  did  remain  until 
30th  June,  1834;  and  then  he  was  hurried  to  Axminster, 
17th  July  next  ensuing.  Within  three  months  he  got 
permission  to  quit  for  Lyme,  where  he  laid  the  foundation- 
stone  of  the  present  Church  of  SS.  George  and  Michael,  on 
23rd  April,  1835.  With  his  characteristic  restlessness,  he 
was  off  to  Poole  soon  after  the  foimdations  appeared  above 
ground.  Thence  he  made  a  tour  to  the  Continent,  and 
during  his  stay  at  Bome  was  made  a  prelate  by  Pope 
Gregory  XVI.,  27th  January,  1837;  but  the  title  of 
Monsignore  expired  with  his  Holiness  in  1846.  Returning 
to  England,  this  clever  but  wayward  priest  was  employed  at 
Torquay,  at  Chepstow  again,  at  Leamington,  at  Aldenham 
HaU;  but  for  the  last  four  or  five  years  of  his  life  remained 
unemployed,  and  from  Ascension  Day,  1851,  was  not  per- 
mitted to  celebrate  Mass  even  in  private.  By  the  death  of 
his  mother  and  sister  he  had  succeeded  to  a  sufficient  main- 
tenance for  any  reasonable  ecclesiastic ;  but  he  was  naturally 
extravagant ;  and  fomenting  the  secret  passion,  after  many 
warnings,  and  in  spite  of  bitter  remorse  of  conscience, 
suffered  the  shipwreck  of  faith,  and  went  over  to  the  Pro- 
testant Church  at  Lyme  on  29th  February,  1852.  His  child, 
by  his  cook,  he  baptized  himself;  fortunately,  the  infant, 
dying  very  soon  after  the  ceremony,  was  translated  into 
paradise. 

My  unhappy  and  most  unfortunate  friend,  about  three 
weeks  before  his  death,  received  a  visit  from  the  priest  at 
Lyme.    Towards  the  end  of  the  interview  he  became  much 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLBRQY.  805 

affected ;  and  at  parting  thus  addressed  him,  *'  Mr.  Kelly, 
you  say  Mass  to-morrow ;  pray  for  me,  and  recommend  me 
to  the  prayers  of  the  congregation/'  Before  Mr.  Kelly 
could  commence  the  service,  he  received  from  him  the 
following  note  :  "  Mr.  Fisher  forbids  Mr.  Kelly  naming  him 
to  the  congregation  this  morning.  Mr.  Kelly  must  not 
answer  this,  nor  call  again  at  Mr.  Fisher's,  as  their  confer- 
ence has  ended."  Delirium  had  seized  upon  him,  and  never 
quitted  him  until  death,  on  Monday  night,  5th  September, 
1853.  He  was  buried  on  Saturday,  10th,  in  the  cemetery  of 
Monkton  Wyld,*  near  Charmouth. 

For  a  long  time  he  had  given  proofs  of  a  disordered  mind. 
I  trust  that  a  most  merciful  Grod  took  pity  on  him. 
^  So  may  he  rest-— his  faults  lie  gently  on  him  1 " 

FisH£B,  John,  S.J.,  at  the  age  of  twenty  joined  the 
Society,  and  eight  years  later  was  sent  to  the  Devonshire 
mission,  where,  I  think,  he  died  20th  October,  1645,  set. 
forty-six. 

FisHSR,  Samueld,  O.S.F. — This  true  disciple  of  the 
seraphic  Father  was  born  at  Uppingham,  co.  Rutland, 
20th  October,  1792;  he  succeeded  Mr.  Baudouin  at  Taunton 
12th  November,  1818.  After  contributing  greatly  by  his 
eeal  and  abilities  to  the  propagation  of  the  Catholic  faith  in 
that  town  and  neighbourhood,  he  had  the  comfort  of  seeing 
the  foundation-stone  of  a  public  chapel  laid  in  the  Crescent  on 
13th  April,  1821,  and  of  witnessing  its  opening  on  Srd  July, 
1822.  He  was  ordered,  within  six  months  later,  to  take 
charge  of  the  Poor  Clares  at  Plymouth,  where  he  arrived 
on  3rd  January,  1823,  and  continued  with  them  until  they 
left  Plymouth  for  Oravelines  on  28th  May,  1834 ;  but  busi- 
ness detained  him  on  the  premises  till  Midsummer  of  that 
year.  Since  that  period  he  has  been  stationed  at  Llanarth 
Court,  CO.  Monmouth. 

Flynn,  Thomas,  O.S.F. — This  native  of  Ireland,  a  man  of 
zeal  and  of  herculean  strength,  was  the  first  resident  incum- 
beut  of  the  laborious  mission  of  Plymouth.  His  chapel 
was  over  a  stable  in  the  rear  of  the  George  Inn,  Devonport. 
After  nearly  ten  years  of  indefatigable  zeal,  he  resigned  his 
charge  to  the  Rev.  J.  Lewis  Guilbert  in  February,  1803, 
and  went  to  Bardstown,  now  the  episcopal  see  of  Kentucky ; 
since  then  I  can  learn  nothing  of  him. 

FoGAETY,  John,  of  Ireland. — On  his  ordinations,  he  was 

•  A  perpetual  curacy  recently  formed  out  of  the  extensive  parish  of 
White  Church  Canonicorum. 


806  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  QF  THB   CLESOT^ 

sent  to  Glasgow^  where  over-exertion  induced  exhaostion. 
He  came  down  to  Taunton  for  the  benefit  of  his  health, 
and  for  a  short  time  felt  himself  equal  to  the  charge  of 
the  mission  there;  but  was  soon  obliged  to  resign.  The 
good  nuns  of  the  convent  harboured  this  young  talented 
missioner,  who  died  8rd  November,  1850,  set.  twenty-seven, 
of  a  deep  decline,  and  honourably  buried  him  in  their  own 
cemetery.    May  Heaven  reward  their  charity  I 

Ford,  Thomas. — This  native  of  Devon,  abandoning  his 
fellowship  in  Trinity  College,  Oxford,  and  all  his  worldly 
prospects,  passed  over  to  Douay  College  in  1571.  In  that 
seminary  of  martyrs  he  became  one  of  its  first  priests  two 
years  later.  After  spending  about  six  years  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  vineyard,  he  was  arrested  at  Lyford,  co.  Berks, 
17th  July,  1581 ;  and  on  28th  May  following  was  barba- 
rously butchered  at  Tyburn.  See  Challoner's  Memoirs ;  and 
also  note  in  the  Appendix. 

Forrester,  Charles,  alias  Fleurt,  S.J.,  was  bom  in 
France  21st  April,  1739;  entered  the  Novitiate  in  1766. 
From  his  own  narrative  we  learn  that  in  company  with 
F.  Edward  Howard,  S.J.,  he  reached  Ostend  on  Saturday 
evening  Srd  August,  1767,  to  pi*ooeed  to  his  destined  mission 
at  Linstead  Lodge,  the  seat  of  Lord  Teynham.  Both  desired 
to  say  Mass  the  next  morning  before  they  sailed  for  Eng- 
land ;  their  host  managed  this,  and  served  them  himself  at 
three  in  the  morning,  but  warned  them  that  "  un  ministre 
Anglican  les  guettoit  soigneusement.^'  In  effect  this  plotter 
of  mischief  had  given  up  his  lodging  at  another  inn,  and  his 
place  in  another  vessel,  to  be  close  to,  and  embark  with  them. 
On  arriving  at  Dover,  his  information  procured  for  them 
a  strict  search  at  the  Custom  House ;  but  Mr.  Forrester  had 
previously  arranged  to  send  their  books,  relics,  kc.,  by 
another  way.  Their  prying  companion  stuck  close,  and 
followed  them  to  Canterburv  and  thence  to  Biochester. 
Here  Mr.  Forrester  fortunately  met  a  friend,  to  whom  he 
related  how  they  were  dodged.  It  was  then  settled  that  a 
postchaise  was  to  be  sent  for,  into  which  Mr.  Forrester  stepped 
and  drove  off  to  Linstead  Lodge  in  that  neighbourhood. 
Mr.  Howard's  destination  was  London.  Suddenly  the 
parson  missed  half  his  prey;  his  untired  malice  vowed 
revenge;  and  in  consequence  of  his  misrepresentations, 
Mr.  Howard  had  to  experience  much  unworthy  treatment  at 
Deptford. 

When  F.  Forrester  had  been  between  two  and  three  years 
at  Linstead  Lodge,  a  young  woman  applied  to  him  for  in- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OP  THE   CLERGY.  807 

Btmction^  as  she  desired  to  become  a  Catholic.  The  zealous 
parson  of  the  parish^  Mr.  Fox^  got  intelligence  of  this^  and  in 
the  fermentation  of  his  spirit  acquainted  his  grace  of  Canter* 
bury  of  the  impending  evil,  who  directed  him  to  prevent 
the  mischief  and  to  make  a  formal  visitation  at  Linstead 
Lodge,  and  severely  lecture  its  chaplain.  Arriving  in  his 
canonicals,  he  demanded  to  see  Mr.  Forrester,  and  was  shown 
into  a  small  parlour.  Mr.  Forrester  obeyed  the  impertinent 
summons,  when  the  following  dialogue  took  place. 

Parson.  Servant,  sir. 

Mr.  Forrester.    Yours,  sir. 

Parson.  You  are  a  Popish  priest,  I  believe. 

Mr.  Forrester.  I  have  the  honour  to  be  Lord  Teynham's 
chaplain. 

Parson.  You  preach,  I  understand,  sir? 

Mr.  Forrester.  I  make  it  my  endeavour  to  give  every  one 
who  addresses  me  all  the  satisfaction  in  my  power. 

Parson.  And  pray  do  you  talk  to  such  persons  in  Latin  or 
English  ? 

Mr.  Forrester.  As  I  always  endeavour  to  speak  so  as  to  be 
understood,  I  should  defeat  my  own  purpose,  and  act  like  a 
fool  to  talk  to  persons,  mostly  of  the  lower  class  andilliteratCj 
in  the  Latin  language. 

Parson.  Oh,  very  well,  sir !  you  may  speak  as  you  please 
to  those  of  your  own  way  of  thinking,  but  I  understand  you 
are  tampering  with  N.N.  I  promise,  if  you  attempt  to  make 
proselytes,  I  shall  enforce  the  penal  laws  against  you;  I  have 
fiill  authority,  and  even  orders  so  to  do. 

Mr.  Forrester  (rising  from  his  chair  and  presenting  his 
hand  cordially  to  his  visitor).  Give  me  leave,  dear  sir,  in 
such  case,  to  add  to  my  respect  for  you  the  warmest  assurance 
of  gratitude  as  to  a  person  whom  I  must  regard  as  singularly 
and  truly  my  benefactor. 

Parson.  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? 

Mr.  Forrester.  Exactly  what  I  say,  sir.  For  in  the  event 
of  your  putting  your  threat  into  execution  I  shall  be  raised 
by  you  to  the  blessing  pronounced  by  Jesus  Christ  himself, 
upon  those  who  suffer  persecution  for  justice'  sake. 

Parson  (astonished  and  a  little  confused).  I  don't  under- 
stand you.  What  do  you  mean  ?  I  never  heard  any  one 
talk  in  this  manner  before.    Are  you  in  earnest  ? 

Mr.  Forrester.  From  the  very  bottom  of  my  heart,  I 
assure  you,  sir,  such  are  my  real  sentiments. 

The  parson  gradually  calmed  down,  waived  the  subject, 
and  took  a  very  civil  leave.  A  few  weeks  later  he  sent  a 
polite  invitation  to  Lord  and  Lady  Teynham,  soliciting  the 

X  2 


808  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THK    CLSROT. 

honour  of  their  company  to  a  fiU^  and  specially  requested 
that  Bev.  Mr.  Forrester  might  be  one  of  the  party.  Nay, 
after  some  months^  he  actually  sent  his  two  sons  for  educa« 
tion  at  St.  Omer's  College. 

So  much  for  consistency  of  principle,  and  still  more  for  the 
power  of  mildness  and  humility  I 

F.  Forrester  continued  at  Linstead  Lodge  until  28th 
January,  1775,  and  on  10th  February  of  that  year  reached 
Wardour,  and  on  6th  October  following  removed  from  the 
old  house  under  the  ruined  castle  into  the  present  noble 
residence  of  the  family.  Two  large  rooms  served  the  pur- 
poses of  a  temporary  chapel  until  the  new  edifice  could  be 
solemnly  blessed  on  the  eve  of  All  Saints^  1776,  and  the  next 
day  was  opened  with  a  solemn  High  Mass,  unprecedented 
in  those  days,  except  in  ambassadors'  chapels.  At  the  end  of 
eighteen  years  he  formally  resigned  the  charge  of  the  Wardour 
Mission,  which  had  greatly  increased  under  his  zealous  ad- 
ministration, for  the  position  of  private  chaplain  to  his  illus- 
trious patrons.  In  1810  he  quitted  Wardour  with  the 
Dowager  Lady  Arundell^  for  her  seat  at  Imham,  co.  Lincoln, 
and  adhered  to  her  until  her  pious  death  20th  June,  1813. 
Shortly  after  he  retired  to  Newhall,  near  Chelmsford,  where 
he  closed  an  honoured  life  by  the  death  of  the  just,  2nd  May, 
1823,  set.  eighty-six. 

F.  Forrester  was  an  able  and  accomplished  gentleman,  and 
full  of  the  ecclesiastical  spirit.  In  his  goodness  of  heart, 
without  sufficient  deliberation,  he  associated  himself  to  the 
Faquanarists,  who  had  an  establishment  at  Kensington ;  but 
he  soon  discovered  his  error,  and  eventually  reunited  himself 
to  the  restored  Society  of  Jesus. 

His  venerable  uncle,  F.  Peter  Anthony  Lawrence  Fleury, 
S.  J.,  was  hospitably  received,  at  the  French  Revolution, 
by  Lord  and  Lady  Arundell;  and  at  his  death,  6th  De- 
cember, 1797,  set.  seventy-one,  at  Wardour,  was  honour- 
ably interred  in  the  family  vault  beneath  the  church 
sanctuary. 

Fosse,  de  la,  James,  an  exemplary  priest  of  Rouen,  who, 
in  the  autumn  of  1795,  accepted  the  place  of  director  of 
Lanherne  Convent,  and  seven  years  later,  on  the  departure 
of  L'Abb^  Riout  for  France,  the  additional  charge  of  the 
congregation.  He  died  there  27th  November,  1817,  set. 
sixty-nine,  and  was  buried  in  the  chapel  he  had  served. 

FouBNiER,  Paul  Auoustin.  —  At  the  French  Revolution 
this  priest  of  Vitr^  emigrated  to  Portugal.  After  some  years 
he  transferred  himself  to  England,  and  is  connected  with  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEROT.  809 

West^  bj  having  had  charge  of  the  faithful  band  at  Calver- 
leigh^  from  15th  March^  1811^  until  his  sudden  death  by 
apoplexy  on  18th  January^  1819,  aged  sixty-seven.  He  was 
buried  in  Calverleigh  churchyard.  I  never  knew  a  more 
methodical,  unobtrusive,  and  exemplary  priest. 

Pox,  Laurence  Charles  Pridbaux,  O.M.I.j  bom  at 
Kingsbridge,  Devon,  22nd  August,  1820.  His  parents, 
Bobert  Ware  Fox  and  Rachel  Cookworthy  were  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Their  son,  after  practising  as 
a  dentist  at  Torquay,  received  the  grace  of  vocation  to 
the  Catholic  faith,  applied  to  F.  McDonnell  for  instruction, 
and  by  that  experienced  guide  was  introduced  into  Qod'a 
Church  on  1 5th  August,  1843.  Piety  led  him  on  to  the  Insti- 
tute of  the  Oblates  of  Mary  the  Immaculate,  five  years  later, 
on  15th  August,  1848.  Bishop  Oillis  ordained  him  priest 
at  Galashiels,  Roxburghshire,  on  10th  August,  1853 ;  and  he 
said  his  first  Mass  on  15th  of  the  same  month,  at  Abbots* 
ford,  once  the  residence  of  the  celebrated  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  Bart,  (as  it  happened  on  the  birthday  of  that  illus- 
trious scholar),  but  now  the  property  of  the  learned  convert, 
Mr.  Hope  Scott. 

The  reverend  gentlemen  has  lately  moved  from  the  house 
at  Galashiels  to  Sickling  Hall,  near  Wetherby. 

Frost,  James,  O.S.F.,  a  man  of  real  merit  and  of  deserved 
distinction  in  his  order;  elected  13th  July,  1770,  guardian 
of  St.  Bonaventure's,  Douay,  and  provincial  80th  August, 
1782,  His  name  is  entitled  to  be  perpetuated  for  his  diluent 
cultivation  of  the  Ugbrook  mission  for  full  ten  years.  See 
Chapter  Book  of  30th  November,  1756,  though  his  register 
commences  only  with  October,  1757,  and  concludes  with 
June,  1766.  To  the  sincere  regret  of  the  Cliflfbrd  family,  he 
was  recalled  by  his  superiors  to  be  president  of  Edgebaston 
School.  This  amiable  gentleman  died  at  Wootton  8rd  October, 
1785,  aged  fifty-four. 

Frter,  Charles,  nephew,  I  believe,  of  the  celebrated  pre* 
sident  of  the  English  College  at  Lisbon.  After  serving 
MamhuU  for  some  time  he  was  transferred  to  London, 
where  he  died,  23rd  June,  1811.  His  brother,  William 
Victor  Fryer,  D.D.,  educated  at  Lisbon,  was  for  many  years 
the  first  chaplain  to  the  Portuguese  Chapel,  South-street, 
London ;  and  when  that  was  closed,  attached  himself  par- 
tially  as  chaplain  to  the  Countess  de  Front ;  but  died  in  his 
own  house.  South-street,  on  the  6th  of  September,  1844, 
aged  seventy-nine. 


810  BIOOEAFHIPAL   LIST  OY  THE   CLBBOT. 

Frtbr,  William,  bom  of  an  ancient  family  in  co.  Somer- 
set ;  completed  his  studies  at  Douay  College ;  but  owing  to 
the  weak  state  of  his  health  was  obliged  to  return  to  his 
native  country  before  his  promotion  to  priesthood.  Bishop 
Challoner  having  at  length  ordained  him,  sent  him  to  St. 
Alban's  College  at  Yalladolid.  Until  the  suppression  of  the 
S.J.  this  house,  and  the  two  smaller  ones  at  Madrid  and 
Seville,  founded  to  train  missionaries  for  England,  were  under 
the  government  of  the  fathers,  but  after  their  expulsion  from 
Spain,  were  made  over  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Bishop  Challoner. 

His  lordship  merged  the  two  minor  establishments  of 
Madrid  and  Seville  into  the  college  of  Yalladolid.  In  this 
college  Mr.  Fryer  filled  the  office  of  vice-president  for  twelve 
years.  On  the  retirement  of  the  Rev.  James  Barnard  from 
the  presidency  of  the  Lisbon  College,  Dr.  Fryer  was  appointed 
his  successor  in  1782,  and  under  his  firm,  gentle,  and  effi- 
cient government,  the  house  assumed  a  renovated  appearance. 
This  worthy  superior  fell  a  victim  to  a  scorbutic  complaint 
on  15th  August,  1805. 

Another  priest  of  this  name  and  family  died  on  Stii 
June,  1849,  at  Cowes,  Isle  of  Wight,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-one,  leaving  two  reverend  brothers,  J.  and  Alfred 
Fryer. 

FuBLONo,  Jonathan,  bom  in  co.  Limerick  27th  September, 
1796,  was  educated  at  Maynooth,  ordained  priest  there  on 
12th  June,  1824;  succeeded  the  Rev.  Maurice  CVConnor  at 
Lanheme,  30th  October,  1826;  but  two  months  later  ex- 
changed with  the  Bev.  Robert  Piatt  for  Axminster,  where  he 
exerted  himself  in  collecting  subscriptions  towards  the  erec- 
tion of  the  present  chapel  of  St.  Mary ;  but  he  quitted  the 
place  at  Michaelmas,  1827,  as  the  Bishop  of  Killala  required 
his  services. 

FuRLONo,  Moses,  O.C,  D.D.,  bom  in  co.  Lancashire  17th 
March,  1810;  ordained  priest  with  Charles  Fisher,  already 
mentioned  at  Prior  Park,  on  1st  June,  1833.  After  render- 
ing valuable  service  to  that  college  as  vice-president  and 
occasional  missionary,  he  was  ordered  to  Lanheme  for 
St.  Clare's  feast  in  1842;  but  his  stay  was  short,  for  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Institute  of  Charity  at  Batdiffe 
College,  and  has  since  been  employed  at  Rugby. 

FuRSDON  (Cuthbert),  John,  O.S.B. — This  eldest  son  of 
Mr.  Fursdon,  of  Fursdon,  Cadbuir,  Devon,  was  the  happy 
instmment  of  converting  the  Falkland  feunily.  He  died  in 
London,  2nd  February,  1638. 


BIOORAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THK   CLE&OT.  811 

IVbsdon  (Cuthbert)/  Thomas^  O.S.B.^  I  think^  was 
younger  brother  of  John  Fursdon.  He  was  never  attached 
to  any  mission ;  but  died  in  the  convent  at  Dieulwart^  where 
he  had  passed  sixty  years,  on  21st  December,  1677,  set. 
ninety-two. 

G. 

Oallaoheb,  John  J. — ^After  trying  various  places,  Gibraltar 
amongst  the  rest,  he  was  accepted  for  Chidiock,  where  he 
took  rest  in  1853  and  1854.  He  is  now  stationed  at  Wolver- 
hampton. 

Garoni,  Henrt. — ^In  early  life  he  entered  amongst  the 
Benedictines.  Quitting  Italy  for  England,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  office  of  librarian  at  Oscott  College ;  and  has,  for  some 
years,  been  chaplain  to  Mrs.  Stonor  at  Bingrove  House, 
Selcombe,  and  at  Lyneham,  Devonshire. 

Gates,  Kobert  Peter,  bom  1st  February,  1787.  After 
trying  several  places,  in  March,  1827,  he  undertook  Falmouth, 
which  he  quitted  for  Axminster  on  Idth  September  following. 
This  mission  proving  unsatisfactory,  he  left  it  at  the  end  of  a 
twelvemonth  for  Usk.  After  other  experiments,  I  find  that 
his  present  station  is  at  Ipswich. 

Gavan,  or  Gawbn,*  John,  S.J.,  doubtless  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  Gawens  of  Norrington,  Wilts,  mentioned  in 
Part  I.,  chapter  ix.  In  early  life  he  was  sent  to  St.  Omer's 
Xollege,  where,  by  his  dove-like  innocence,  he  merited  the 
name  of  the  "  angel.*'  On  28th  May,  1666,  I  find  him 
defending  the  whole  course  of  philosophy  at  Liege,  with  his 
talented  confrire  Charles  Evans.  After  finishing  his  theolo- 
gical studies  and  receiving  the  order  of  priesthood,  F.  Gawen 
was  stationed  at  Wolverhampton,  a  fitting  theatre  for  his  zeal 
and  eloquence ;  but  when  the  perjuries  of  the  miscreant 
Gates  and  Dugdale  had  maddened  the  English  nation,  the 
course  of  the  practical  usefulness  of  our  pious  missionary 
was  closed,  by  his  arrest  and  imprisonment.  After  twenty 
weeks'  confinement  he  was  brought  to  trial,  at  the  Old  Bailey, 
in  June,  1672,  with  FF.  Whitbread,  Harcourt,  Fenwick,  and 
Turner.  Their  innocence  of  the  plot  was  made  transparent 
to  every  calm  spectator ;  but  a  jury,  terrified  by  an  imaginary 
danger,  brought  in  a  verdict  of  Guilty,  and  all  five  were  led, 
Hke  their  blessed  Lord,  as  sheep  to  the  slaughter,  on  80th 
June,  N.S.     Father  Gawen  exchanged  a  miserable  life  for 

*  See  the  tiUe-page  to  his  Trial,  as  published  by  authority  in  1679* 


313  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY. 

immortality  at  tlie  early  age  of  thirty-nine^  rel.  nineteen^ 
prof.  one. 

N.B.  In  my  humble  opinion  F.  Ambrose  Gawen,  O.S.B.^ 
professed  at  Lambspring  21st  March^  1690,  and  who  died 
3rd  September,  1737,  was  a  member  of  this  respectable 
family. 

Geary,  Anselm,  O.S.B.,  professed  at  Lambspring  15th 
April,  1732 ;  served  Leighland  for  some  time;  died  at  Bath 
23rd  March,  1795,  set.  eighty-two. 

Gerard,  William,  bom  at  Beerland  Farm,  near  Chidiock, 
11th  September,  1754 ;  was  chiefly  educated  at  Douay.  From 
1784  until  24th  May,  1830,  when  God  released  his  soul  from 
the  prison  of  the  body,  the  yenerable  man  was  chaplain  at 
Llanarth  Court,  co.  Monmouth. 

Gibbons,  John,  S.J.,  bom  in  the  city  of  Wells,  in  1544. 
This  learned  divine  resigned  his  canonry  at  Bonn,  to  which 
he  had  been  collated  by  Pope  Gregory  XIII.,  to  become  the 
humble  novice  of  the  Society  at  Triers  in  1578.  He  died 
rector  of  the  college  there,  3rd  December,  1589.  It  is  known 
that  he  had  the  principal  hand  in  the  '^  Concertatio  Ecclesiffi 
Catholics^''  in  England,  though  after  the  first  edition  at 
Triers  in  1583,  Dr.  Bridgewater  augmented  the  work  in  his 
editions  of  1584  and  1588. 

Gibbons,  Richard,  S.J.,  younger  brother  of  John  afore- 
said, but  who  had  entered  the  Society  at  Bome  Ist  September, 
1572.  Few  scholars  have  been  more  indefatigable  as  pro- 
fessors and  authors.  His  most  useful  life  closed  at  Douay 
23rd  June,  1632,  set.  eighty-three.  For  the  list  of  his  works 
see  Southwell's  "  Bibliotheca  Scriptoram  S.J." 

Gibson,  Isaac,  S.J. — Of  his  early  life  I  can  barely  gleau^ 
that  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  joined  the  Jesuits ;  that  after 
his  promotion  to  the  priesthood  he  was  employed  in  the 
Gloucestershire  mission,  and  that  he  died  10th  Novemberj 
1728,  aged  sixty-four. 

GiiiDART,  George  Thomas. — In  the  twelfth  chapter  of 
the  first  Part,  page  117,  I  have  given  all  I  could  collect 
of  this  worthy  gentleman,  who  died  17th  February,  1827, 
aged  sixty-three. 

Gilbert,  William,  S.J.,  a  native  of  co.  Somerset. — ^At 
the  age  of  twenty  he  dedicated  himself  to  Gt>d  in  the  Society, 
and  was  enrolled  amongst  its  professed  fathers  8th  September, 
1645.  He  closed  his  missionary  life  22nd  December,  1677, 
set.  seventy. 


BIOOR^?BICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLEBOT.  313 

OiLUBRAND,  Richard^  S.  J.^  of  Chorley,  bom  2nd 
March,  1717;  he  entered,  with  his  elder  brother  William, 
into  the  Watten  novitiate  in  1735.  He  is  connected  with 
the  west  by  having  been  for  some  time  the  incumbent  at 
Arlington,  near  Barnstaple.  His  death  took  place  at  Bath 
on  23rd  March,  1774. 

GiLLiBBAND,  WiLLiAM,  S.J. — ^Aftcr  Serving  several  chap- 
laincies,  he  came  into  the  west,  and  was  the  first  resident 
incumbent  of  Exeter, — a  situation  which  he  occupied  for 
about  four  or  five  years.  He  then  succeeded  to  the  patrimonial 
estate  at  Chorley,  where  he  ended  his  days  22nd  Mardi,  1779, 
aged  sixty-four. 

OiLMORE,  Paul,  O.S.B. — ^Prom  the  profession-book  of 
Lambspring  Abbey,  I  learn  that  he  was  bom  at  Ramsbury, 
in  Wilts ;  that  he  took  the  habit  there  on  27th  June,  1685. 
That  he  went  into  the  house  of  eternity  in  1748  appears  to  be 
certain.  I  suspect  that  this  religious  was  the  author  of 
"  The  Pious  Monitor  of  the  Divine  Presence.*' 

•  OiBARD,  l'Abbe  Bernard,  succeeded  the  worthy  M.  Du- 
chemin  at  Gloucester,  in  1816,  and  retained  that  incum- 
bency until  his  death  on  4th  November,  1825,  aged  sixty* 
four. — See  Part  I.  p.  117. 

Olassbrook,  Anselm,  O.S.B.,  was  bom  at  Wigan  12tb 
February,  1803;  went  to  St.  Edmund's  Convent,  Douay, 
in  September,  1818,  and  was  professed  there  13th  October, 
1823;  he  studied  theology  partly  there,  and  partly  at 
St.  Sulpice,  Paris;  and  was  ordained  priest  in  September, 
1828.  Twice  he  has  been  employed  at  Cheltenham;  but 
the  chief  scene  of  his  missionary  labours  has  been  in  the 
north  of  England,  especially  at  Workington,  Cumberland, 
in  which  county  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  establishing 
the  new  mission  at  Maryport.  After  serving  Fairford,  in 
Gloucestershire,  for  four  years,  and  understanding  that  the 
salary  would  cease  at  the  death  of  Lord  De  Mauley,  he 
managed  to  secure  an  eligible  spot  in  Cirencester,  where  he 
has  the  merit  of  having  opened  a  chapel. 

Godwin,  Ignatius,  S.  J.,  of  Somersetshire. — ^At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  joined  the  order,  and  for  twenty  years  was 
employed  in  the  residence  of  St.  Stanislaus,  which  included 
Devon  and  Cornwall,  viz.  from  1631  to  1651.  He  then 
retired  to  Liege,  where  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Moral 
Divinity  and  Controversy;  and  there  published,  in  1656, 
that  excellent  treatise,  "  Lapis  Lydius  Controversiarum,^'  in 
24mo.  pp.  446;  and  in  the  ensuing  year,  the  ''Pia  Exerci^ 


314  BIOGliAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THS   CLXROT. 

tatio   Divini  Amoris.^'      Returning   to    England,    he   died 
quietly  in  London,  26th  November,  1667,  set  sixty-five. 

Godwin,  Henry,  bom  at  Liverpool,  14th  December, 
1821 ;  he  made  his  studies  at  Lisbon,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  was  promoted  to  priesthood.  In  1847  he  was 
appointed  to  the  mission  of  Oloucester,  void  by  the  death  of 
F.  Hartley;  but  when  he  had  done  duty  there  for  seven 
months,  was  transferred  to  the  larger  field  of  Plymouth. 
This  also  he  left  in  January,  1850.  Thence  he  proceeded  to 
Fairford,  and  St.  Mary's,  at  Bristol. 

Good,  Wii^liam,  S.J.,  a  native  of  Glastonbury,  and  one 
of  the  earliest  of  our  countrymen  who  joined  the  Jesuits ; 
for  he  entered  their  novitiate  at  Tournay,  in  1562.  This 
truly  good  father,  as  Dr.  Allen  styles  him,  after  ren- 
dering important  services  to  religion,  closed  a  life  of  pious 
labour  at  Naples  5th  July,  1586. —  See  Collectanea  S.J.^ 
p.  105. 

Gordon. — ^All  that  I  can  as  yet  learn  of  this  reverend 
gentleman  amounts  to  this,  that  he  was  chaplain  to  Mrs. 
Bearcroft,  daughter  of  Sir  Walter  Compton,  Bart.,  at  Hart- 
pury-court,  about  the  year  1770. 

GosroRD,  Edward  Alfred,  was  serving  Bridport  in  1852, 
and  went  to  supply  in  other  districts.  He  then  went  to  the 
family  of  the  Biddells  at  Cheesebum  Grange,  Northumber* 
land ;  but  he  quitted  this  mission  early  in  1856. 

GossiER,  Joseph  Francis,  bom  at  Dieppe  in  1766;  he 
finished  his  studies  at  Bouen,  and  at  the  period  of  the  French 
Bevolution  was  vicar  of  St.  James's  in  his  native  town.  This 
highly-gifted  and  much  respected  ecclesiastic  is  connected 
with  the  west  by  having  been  attached  to  the  Arundell 
family  from  26th  August,  1800,  residing  much  at  Ashcombe, 
near  Wardour.  Everard,  the  tenth  Lord  Arundell,  who  was 
his  pupil  for  several  years,  and  felt  under  deep  obligations  to 
such  a  tutor,  wished  me  to  retain  his  name  amongst  the 
Wiltshire  clergy.  On  10th  November,  1806,  he  succeeded 
to  the  charge  of  educating  Arthur  James,  Lord  Killeen,  now 
Lord  Fingdl.  On  19th  May,  1813,  he  undertook  the  same 
ofiioe  for  the  Hon.  Edward  Petre.  At  length,  returning  to 
France,  he  settled  at  Rouen,  where  he  died,  honoured  and 
beloved,  on  22nd  March,  1840.  This  benevolent  man's  will 
bears  date  27th  February,  1839.  To  the  Carmelite  nuns  at 
Rouen  he  leaves  10,000  francs,  with  the  obligation  of  keep- 
ing his  anniversary,  and  of  having  Masses  celebrated  on 
26th  August  for  the  Arundell  family,  on  10th  November 


9100BAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLXIIOY.  815 

for  tbe  Fingall  finmily,  and  on  19th  May  for  the  Petre 
family:  ''Pour  lea  membrea  yivants  et  morts  dea  famillea 
respectives  que  je  regarde  comme  mea  amiea  et  bien* 
faitrices.^'  For  the  benefit  of  old  and  infirm  ecclesiastica 
of  the  diocese  of  Rouen^  he  bequeaths  the  interest  of  20,000 
francs.  To  the  three  poorest  parishes  in  Rouen^  he  gives 
20^000  firancs ;  and  the  same  amount  (20^000  firancs)  to  the 
Literary,  Scientific,  and  Agricultural  Societies  in  the  depart- 
ment "  de  la  Seine  Inferieure."  For  many  years  before  his 
death  he  had  been  nominated  ''chanoine  honoraire  de  la 
Cathedrale  de  Bouen/' 

Gradell,  John,  S.J. — His  real  name  was  O'Neil,  bom 
in  Ireland  11th  May,  1716.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  he 
joined  the  Society.  I  know  that  he  was  serving  the  Cornish 
mission  in  1746,  and  there,  I  believe,  he  died  on  6th 
January,  1760.  I  have  seen  his  signature  in  some  books : 
John  Gradell,  Comub.  Ihs. 

Graves,  John,  S.J.,  of  Somersetshire. — ^After  filling  the 
office  of  Penitentiary  at  St.  Peter's  in  Rome,  and  serving 
the  English  mission,  he  retired  to  the  College  of  Liege,  and 
was  appointed  professor  of  Hebrew  and  Scripture.  There 
he  died  on  30th  August,  1652;  soc.  fifty-five,  set.  eighty- 
four. 

Gratton  (Stephen),  Thomas,  O.S.F.,  bom  at  Rowington 
31st  May,  1764;  entered  St.  Bonaventure's  Convent  at 
Douay,  as  he  informed  me,  on  10th  October,  1780,  and  lived 
to  be  twice  provincial  of  his  brethren.  This  truly  man  of 
God  was  connected  with  the  Western  District  by  his  resi- 
dence at  Taunton  Convent,  where  he  edified  and  enlightened 
all  that  approached  him.  This  amiable  old  man  went  to  his 
reward  on  23rd  December,  1847. 

Grben,  Henrt  Jamxs,  the  present  pastor  of  St.  Osmund^ 
Salisbury. 

Grbbn,  Huoh,  alias  Brooks,  FBRDiNANn,  mart3nred  at 
Dorchester.  (See  Part  I.  p.  89;  and  Bishop  ChaJloner'a 
Memoirs.)     He  was  butchered  alive,  19th  August,  1642. 

Grebnwat,  Gborob,  son  of  Charles  Greenway,  of  Tiverton^ 
bom  25th  July,  1779,  and  baptixed  on  28th  of  the  same 
month  by  Rev.  John  Edisford,  S.J. ;  was  educated  at  Sedgley- 
park,  where  I  well  recollect  him,  and  St.  Alban's  College 
at  Valladolid;  but  was  ordained  priest,  as  he  told  me,  at 
St.  Edmund's,  Herts,  in  September,  1803.  For  seventeen 
years  St.  Mary's,  Moorfields,  had  the  advantage  of  hia 
spirited  exertions  and  eloquence*    In  the  prime  of  life  he 


816  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLEBOT. 

was  called  away^  to  my  deep  regret^  on  19tli  October^  1821, 
and  his  remains  lie  in  the  vaults  of  this  Pro-Cathedral, 
where  a  moral  monument  thus  records  his  worth. 

Sacred  to  the  Memory  of 

The  Reverend  George  (xreenway. 

Bom  at  Tiverton,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  the  xxv*  July,  1779, 

And  educated  in  the  English  College  of  Yalladolid,  in  Spain. 

Hie  virtues  and  exemplary  conduct^ 

During  the  seventeen  years  he  was  Fastor  of  this  Congregation, 

Endeared  him  to  every  one  ;  and  his  death  hereft  those  who  Knew  him 

Of  a  most  sincere  friend. 

He  departed  this  life  on  the  xix*^  Oct.  mdcccxxi.  aged  xlii. 

Requiescat  in  Pace. 

Of  this  dear  old  firiend  I  may  say, 

*^  Flere  et  meminisse  relictum  est.'* 

Greenway,  John,  son  of  John  Greenway,  of  Tiverton. 
His  father  was  a  convert  to  the  Catholic  faith,  with  his  two 
uncles,  Stafford''^  and  Charles.  Educated  at  Yalladolid,  this 
young  priest,  with  the  reputation  of  being  a  polite  scholar 
and  a  sound  Theologian,  was  appointed  pastor  of  the  rising 
congregation  at  Gloucester.  Under  his  auspices,  everything 
wore  an  improved  appearance;  he  purchased  the  present 
premises  for  the  mission,  erected  St.  Peter's  Chapel,  opened 
an  academy  for  young  gentlemen  of  family,  and  made  himself 
universally  respected,  when  in  the  mid-career  of  usefulness 
he  was  prematurely  carried  off,  29th  November,  1800,  set. 
fifty* 

Grezille,  alias  Hoche. — This  Erench  abbe  succeeded 
P.  Casemore,  at  Falmouth,  6th  August,  1818.  To  his  honour 
it  should  be  recorded  that  he  collected,  by  his  industry,  and 
chiefly  amongst  the  royal  family  of  France,  the  sum  of 
iSSOO  towards  the  erection  of  the  present  chapel  of  St.  Mary ; 
the  foundation-stone  of  which  was  laid  2l8t  February,  1819. 
It  was  opened  on  24th  October,  1821.  He  died  on  17th 
August  following,  and  was  buried  in  his  own  chapel* 

Grimston,  John,  S.J.,  bom  at  Preston  23rd  November, 
1819;  entered  the  order  7th  September,  1837,  and  was 
ordained  priest  25th  August,  1860.    Since  30th  June,  1858, 

*  Stafford  was  Master  of  the  Free  English  School  at  Tiverton ; 
but,  on  account  of  his  conversion,  was  obliged  to  resign,  in  17579  after 
holding  the  situation  twelve  years.  Obiit  Londini  13th  April,  1797» 
let.  seventy.  His  wife,  Lucy,  survived  until  20th  August,  1809,  set. 
seventy,  and,  with  his  sister,  Mary,  who  died  10th  May,  1821,  est. 
seventy-two^  lies  near  him  in  St.  Pancras,  London. 


BIOO&APHICAL  LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY.  817 

be  has  been  tbe  pastor  of  Wardour^  vice  F.  J.  Laurenson^ 
transferred  to  Worcester, 

GuiLBBRT,  John  Lewis,  bom  in  Normandy  17th  January, 
1763;  at  the  emigration  settled  himself  at  Shepton  Mallett. 
Bishop  Sharrock,  who  knew  him  to  be  clever  and  zealous, 
appointed  him  in  the  spring  of  1803  to  succeed  F.  Flynn  at 
Plymouth.  Disgusted  with  the  mean  locality  of  the  chapel 
at  Dock,  now  Devonport,  he  took  a  lease  of  a  large  spot  in 
Stonehouse,  on  which  he  erected  a  presbytere,  and  on  28th 
May,  1806,  laid  the  foundation-stone  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel, 
which,  I  remember,  was  opened  for  public  worship  on  20th 
[December,  1807.  It  was  a  bold  undertaking  for  those  times. 
He  continued  his  indefatigable  exertions  in  this  increasing 
mission  until  the  close  of  1815,  when  he  returned  to  France. 
There  he  was  made  "  chanoine  honoraire  de  St.  Denis,''  and 
almoner  to  the  Dauphin  Cuirassiers.  He  died  on  27th  July, 
1822,  at  Epinal,  department  de  Yosges. 


H. 

Hacon,  Hubert,  S.J.,  was  admitted  into  the  order  at 
Watton,  7th  September,  1698,  and  after  finishing  his  higher 
studies  at  Liege,  was  sent  on  the  English  mission.  After 
acting  as  chaplain  to  the  Ferrers  family,  he  was  appointed 
successor  to  F.  Richard  Holland,  at  Wardour,  in  1734w 
There  he  died  9th  May,  O.S.,  1751,  aged  seventy-three* 
His  gravestone  in  Tisbury  Church  is  thus  inscribed : — 

^  Hie  jacet  Hubertns  Hacon. 

Obiit  Mali  nono,  Anno  Dni  1751. 

Reqaiescat  in  Pace. 

Halpord,  John,  a  learned  and  exemplary  priest  of  Douay 
College.  He  succeeded  the  Rev.  Charles  Needham,  at  Tor 
Abbey,  at  Michaelmas  1788,  and  during  the  seventeen  suc- 
cessive years  discharged  all  the  duties  of  the  good  pastor. 
From  bad  health  he  was  forced  to  retire  from  the  situation 
he  filled  with  so  much  credit.  His  lamented  death  occurred 
at  Henley-upon-Thames  on  8th  December,  1805. 

Hall,  Boniface,  O.S.B.,  of  Lancashire,  bom  in  1787; 
professed  at  Lambspring  7th  November,  1756;  resided  at 
Lanheme  about  fifteen  years,  when  he  went  to  Cossey  Hall 
for  a  short  time.  Thence,  late  in  1771,  he  quitted  for  Lamb- 
spring,  where  he  terminated  his  days  on  16th  October,  1803, 
and  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  Abbey  Church  after 
the  monastery  was  suppressed  by  the  Prussian  authorities. 


818  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THB   CLEEOT. 

Hall  (Placid),  John,  O.S.B.,  bom  at  Bamber-bridge,  co. 
Lancashire,  30th  October,  1819;  professed  at  Broadway  29th 
December,  1834,  by  the  president,  F.  Birdsall ;  left  Broadway 
for  Downside  3rd  November,  1841 ;  was  ordained  priest  by 
Bishop  Baggs  1st  June,  1844;  and  four  years  and  a  half 
later  waa  appointed  the  missioner  of  Downside.  In  Part  I. 
p.  66,  I  have  alluded  to  his  zealous  labours  in  commencing 
the  mission  of  Frome.  Since  12th  April,  1853,  he  has  been 
stationed  at  Warrington. 

Halt,  Chaeles,  bom  in  Bristol  29th  December,  1776; 
was  partly  educated  at  Borne,  and  St.  Edmund's  College, 
Herts ;  for  some  years  was  the  incumbent  at  XJsk,  where  he 
took  pupils.  On  2nd  July,  1819,  he  became  the  pastor  of 
the  Axminster  congregation;  and,  sb  I  well  recollect,  sud- 
denly retired  from  its  charge  and  all  missionary  duty  on  6th 
September,  1821.  What  became  of  him,  I  could  never 
ascertain. 

Hamblet,  John. — It  is  generally  stated  that  he  was  bom 
in  the  diocese  of  Exeter ;  but  F.  Warford,  his  cotemporary, 
relates  that  Somersetshire  wais  his  native  county,  and  then 
supplies  the  following  particulars  which  he  had  collected  from 
credible  persons :  that  he  was  betrayed  at  an  inn  by  a  gen« 
tleman's  servant ;  that  he  fared  very  hard  during  two  years' 
imprisonment,  not  without  blame  to  some  Catholics  living 
at  no  great  distance,  who  might  have  relieved  him  in  his 
necessities.  At  his  arraignment,  a  verdict  was  found  against 
him.  The  judge,  cut  nomen  GerUius,*  addressed  him  in  such 
soft  and  pathetic  terms,  that  the  prisoner's  constancy 
appeared  to  the  court  to  be  staggering,  and  he  inclining  to 
conform,  when,  strange  to  say,  a  perfect  stranger  stepped 
forward  and  delivered  to  him  a  letter.  He  read  it  again  and 
again,  and  became  so  deeply  affected,  as  to  burst  into  tears ; 
but  declined  to  satisfy  the  bystanders  as  to  the  cause  of  his 
distress.  The  next  morning  he  announced,  in  open  court, 
his  deep  sense  of  shame  of  his  weakness,  and  bitterly 
lamented  that  the  solicitations  of  his  lordship,  and  the  terror 
of  impending  death,  had,  for  a  time,  shaken  his  resolution; 
but  that  now  the  most  excruciating  torments  would  prove 
most  acceptable  to  him.  On  the  following  day  he  went 
rejoicing  to  the  place  of  execution.  F.  Warford  then 
obs^es,  ^'  that  it  was  manifest  that  the  letter  produced  this 
extraordinary  change,  yet  up  to  this  day,  notwithstanding 
the  most  diligent  inquiry  had  been  instituted,  it  remained  a 
secret  who  was  its  writer  or  its  deliverer,  whence  some^  and 

*  Thomas  Gent,  janior  Baron  of  Exchequer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  LIST  OF  THB   CLBBOT.  819 

not  without  reason^  believed  that  it  came  from  his'  angel 
guardian  :'' — "  Unde,  et  a  nonnuUis^  nee  immerito,  ab  angelo 
custode  illatse  literae  creduntar.'' 

It  is  nearly  certain  that  he  was  executed  at  Chard^  and  not 
at  York^  in  the  summer  of  1587.  Dodd  antedates  his  death 
by  two  years. 

Hanne^  Charles,  S.J.,  bom  at  Deyiock,  in  Cardinham 
parish,  near  Bodmin,  on  14th  June,  1711.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  joined  the  order.  The  venerable  man  was  for 
some  years  superior  of  his  brethren  in  the  residence  of 
St.  George,  which  included  Worcestershire  and  Warwick- 
shire ;  but  for  the  last  forty  years  of  his  life,  he  was  stationed 
in  Northumberland.  He  died  at  Haggerston,  27th  April, 
1799. 

Hardino,  Thomas,  D.D.,  bom  at  Bickington,  or  Combe 
iMartiu,  Devon,  rose  by  his  talents  to  be  a  leading  professor 
of  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  to  hold  valuable  prefer- 
ments in  the  Church ;  all  which  he  resigned  to  follow  his 
conscience,  soon  after  Queen  Elizabeth's  accession.  Settling 
at  Louvain,  he  stood  forth  the  strenuous  champion  of  Catho- 
licity, especially  against  Jewell,*  his  near  countryman,  but 
bishop  of  Salisbury.  For  an  account  of  his  powerful  works, 
see  Wood's  "  Athen»  Oxon./'  Part  I.  p.  188.  This  learned 
divine  died  at  Louvain  aged  about  sixty,  and  was  there 
buried,  16th  September,  1572.  See  also  his  life  in  Prince's 
"Worthies  of  Devon." 

Harrington,  alias  Drury,  Mark,  of  Douay  CoUeg^ 
and  ordained  priest  7th  December,  1616.  Dodd  (vol.  iii. 
p.  304)  informs  us  that  he  wasi  living  in  the  Wiltshire 
mission  in  1635,  and  was  Y.G.  of  Bishop  Bichard  Smith. 
That  he  was  an  able  man  is  indisputable;  but,  like  his 
friend,  the  Rev.  Thomas  White,  was  unfortunately  a  lover  of 
the  profane  novelties  of  words.  His  death  occurred  in  July, 
1657,  aged  sixty-six. 

Harrington,  William. — ^This  blessed  priest  and  martyr 
of  Rheims  College,  came  to  the  English  mission  in  1592, 
"and  lived  and  conversed  in  the  west  country,"  but  was 
apprehended  in  London.     Dr.  Challoner  in  his  Memoirs 

*  He  was  bora  at  Bowden,  in  the  parish  of  Benry-Narbor,  d4th 
March,  1522.  I  hare  seen  the  will  of  hb  maternal  uncle — I  believe,  Jckn 
Bellamv, — the  incumbent  of  High  Hampton  and  Countitbury,  dated  5th 
December,  1543,  in  which  he  gives  ^  to  John  Juell  the  younger,  now 
scholar  at  Oxford,  at  such  tyme  that  he  doth  precede  Master  of  Arte^ 
£S.  6«.  Bd.,'*  and  to  every  ouier  child  of  John  Juell,  of  Bowdtii,  one 
sheep. 


820  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLSBOT. 

(vol*  i.  p.  165  of  Manchester  edit.  1803)  laments  that  he 
was  not  able  to  learn  when^  how,  or  where  he  was  appre- 
hended, or  any  -  other  particulars  of  his  sufferings  or 
missionary  labours.  The  following  letter,  originally  written 
shortly  after  his  execution  at  Tyburn,  w^l  partly  supply  that 
deficiency. 

''He  was  apprehended  in  May  last  in  the  chamber  of 
one  Mr.  Henry  Dunne,  a  young  gentlemen  of  the  Inns  of 
Court,  by  Mr.  Justice  Younge,  and  by  him  committed  to 
Bridewell ;  from  thence  at  the  next  sessions,  about  the  end 
of  June,  he  was  removed  to  Newgate,  and  then  indicted  of 
of  high  treason.  He  pleaded.  Not  guilty.  Being  asked  by 
Mr.  Seijeant  Drew,*  the  Recorder,  how  he  would  be  tried? 
He  answered, '  By  God  and  the  Bench.'  He  was  told  to 
say, '  By  God  and  the  country/  He  replied  he  would  not 
have  a  jury  of  simple  men  determine  of  his  life.  The  Bench 
were,  or  should  be,  wise  and  learned,  and  thereby  knew 
whether  the  law  were  a  just  law,  and  himself  culpable ;  and 
other  trial  he  would  have  none.  He  was  told  they  would 
give  present  judgment.  He  said,  he  was  prepared  for  it. 
Upon  this  his  resolution,  judgment  was  respited  and  himself 
carried  back  to  Newgate.  From  thence  he  was  carried  to 
the  Attorney  and  Solicitor  (Generals)  to  be  by  them 
examined ;  firom  them  he  was  committed  to  the  Marshalsea. 
He  then  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Lord  Keeper,  giving  him  to 
understand  the  reasons  of  his  refusing  ordinary  trial.  On 
15th  February,  at  the  sessions  held  at  Newgate,  he  was 
suddenly  sent  for  thither,  and  his  former  indictment  being 
again  read,  he  was  asked  whether  he  would  yet  put  himself 
in  trial  upon  the  country.  He  said,  as  before,  that  he  was 
resolved  not  to  do  it.  The  Recorder  said,  he  deceived 
himself  if  thereby  he  sought  to  save  his  life ;  and  that  they 
might  and  would  give  him  his  judgment.  He  answered,  he 
knew  very  well  they  might,  and  that  like  judgment  had 
been  given  at  York  against  two  other  priests,  which  was 
sufficient  precedent  unto  him ;  and  as  they  would  not  lay 
the  burden  of  conscience  on  more  men,  as  contrivers  of 
their  death  than  needs  they  must,  so  he,  knowing  that 
after  the  jury  should  pronounce  him  guilty,  yet  the  judge 
must  give  sentence,  meant  to  free  the  jury,  and  lay  all  the 
guilt  of  his  death  on  the  judge  and  the  Bench.  'Then,' 
said  the  Recorder, '  it  is  manifest  you  are  a  priest,  and  come 
into  England  with  traitorous  intent,  and  therefore  I  will 
give  judgment.'     'My  intent,'    said   Mr.  Harrington,   'in 

*  This  able  and  affluent  lawyer  of  Devonshire  died  at  his  seat,  Killer- 
ton,  in  1622,  and  lies  in  the  parish  church  of  Broad  Clist. 


BIOQBAFHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLERGY.  321 

coming  into  England^  was  and  is  no  other  than  St.  John  the 
Baptist's  in  coming  to  Herod ;  and  as  he  told  Herod  it  was 
not  lawful  for  him  to  marry  his  brother's  wife  ;*  so  I  tell  my 
loving  countrymen,  it  is  not  lawful  to  go  to  church,  and  to 
live  in  schism  and  heresy.     So,  if  I  be  a  traitor,  St.  John 
was  a  traitor,  his  case  and  mine  being  all  one.'     Upon  this 
the  Recorder  gave  judgment,  as  in  case  of  treason,  whereat 
he  was  nothing  dismayed.    Then  said  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
unto  him, '  You  area  young  man,  and  the  queen  is  merciful; 
go  but  to  church,  and    you  may  live.'      Mr.  Harrington 
turned  him  to  the  people  and  prayed  them  to  note  what 
goodly  treason  there  was:  if  he  would  go  to  church,  he 
should  live ;  but  -because  he  would  not  so  do,  he  must  die ; 
therefore,  his  not  going  to  church  was  all  the  treason.     And 
so  he  was  removed  from  the  bar  to  Newgate,  and  put  into 
one  of  the  limbos,  as  the  manner  is ;  there  he  continued  all 
that  night,  and  Saturday  and  Sunday  following.  On  Monday, 
being  18th  February,  between  seven  and  eight  in  the  morn- 
ing, after  he  had  given  his  benediction  to  some  poor  Catholic 
women  that  found  means  to  visit  him,  and  by  them  sent 
his  handkerchiefs  and  some  other  necessaries  to  his  particular 
friends  abroad,  he  was  brought  forth  and  laid  on  the  hurdle, 
and  thereunto  fast  bound,  and  was  drawn  towards  the  usual 
place  of  execution.     When  he  was  something  near  the  place, 
the  Serjeant  told  him  he  had  then  not  far  to  go,  and  willed 
him  to  prepare  himself  to  die  like  a  Christian.     One  of 
Mr.  Harrington's  brethren  being  near,  answered  the  seijeant, 
• '  You  need  not  trouble  him,  you  see  he  is  willing  enough  to 
die,'  and  so  took  leave  of  him  and  returned.     He  was  no 
sooner  gone,  but  they  said, '  It  had  been  a  good  deed  to  have 
apprehended  him/  and  asked  him  what  he  was.     Mr.  Har- 
rington told  them  he  was  one  of  his  five  brothers ;  but  one 
•  that  had  no  cause  to  fear  them,  as  not  being  a  Catholic ;  for 
which  cause,  and  to  think  of  the  lamentable  estate  of  his 
poor  countrymen,  his  very  heart  did  bleed.     And  therewithal 
.tears  fell  from  his  eyes.     'Why,'  quoth  one  of  the  seijeants, 
'what  think  you  of  us?'     He  answered>'As  of  all  schis- 
matics and  heretics,  that  unless  you  repent,  you  cannot  be 
saved.'    Now  were    they  come  to  the  place  of  execution, 
where  ten  men  and  three  women  for  felony  being  first  in 
hanging,  and  the  Serjeants  thereabout  busy,  a  minister  came 
to  Mr.  Harrington,  and  proposed  many  questions  in  divinity 
unto  him,  lying  all  that  while  on  the  hurdle.  Mr.  Harrington 
.said,  if  he  woiUd  stand  upon  one  only  question  which  he 
list,  and  not  so  run  from  one  to  another,  he  would  answer 
him ;  so  entering  into  disputation  about  St.  Peter's  primacy. 


322  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF  THE   CLBRG7. 

Topcliffe  came  and  interrupted  them,  saying,  it  was  neither 
time  nor  place  to  dispute ;  but  because  he  heard  he  was  a 
gentleman,  fie  wished  him  to  resolve  to  acknowledge  his  trea- 
son, and  to  ask  the  queen  forgiveness.  He  answered,  he  had 
never  offended  her;  and  immediately  was  put  into  the  cart^ 
and  the  halter  about  his  neck,  and  he  began  thus  to  speak^ 
'Oh,  my  loving  countrymen,  I  thank  you  for  your  pains 
and  patience  in  coming  hither  to  bear  witness  of  the 
manner  and  cause  of  my  death/  Here  T(^liffe  inter- 
rupted him,  saying,  he  was  not  at  Rome ;  it  was  no  place 
for  him  to  preach.  '  Why,'  said  Mr.  Harrington,  '  may  I 
not  speak  ? '  '  Yes,'  said  Topcliffe,  '  if  you  will  speak  to 
these  three  points;  that  is  to  say,  anything  that  tendeth 
to  the  good  of  her  Majesty's  person,  the  good  of  the  realm, 
or  the  reforming  of  your  conscience ; '  inferring,  further, 
that  though  he  himself  had  sufficient  authority  to  save  him, 
yet  it  might  be,  the  sheriff  had  it  more  particularly,  and 
tlierefore  willed  him  to  expect  mercy,  and  to  speak  plainly  of 
the  west  countiy,  where  they  knew  he  had  lived  and  con- 
versed. He  answered,  he  knew  nothing  but  that  Topcliffe's 
mercy  was  worse  than  the  Turks',  who,  having  the  body  in 
subjection,  sought  not  to  destroy  the  soul ;  but  Topcliffe  was 
never  contented  till  he  had  destroyed  both ;  concluding  that 
he  was  a  blood-sucker,  and  prayed  Grod  to  forgive  him. 
Topcliffe  replied,  'Thou  liest;  and  so  thou  didst  say  the 
queen  was  a  tyrant?'  He  answered,  '  I  say  nothing  of  the 
queen,  but  that  I  never  offended  her;  but  I  say  you  are  a 
tyrant  and  a  blood-sucker;  and  no  doubt  you  shall  have 
blood  enough  as  long  as  you  have  hands  and  halters  to  hang 
us.  You  shall  not  want  priests;  we  were  300  in  England, 
you  have  put  to  death  100;  other  200  are  left.  When  they 
are  gone,  200  more  are  ready  to  come  in  their  places ;  and 
for  my  part,  I  hope  my  death  will  do  more  good  than  ever 
my  life  could  have  done.'  Being  ready  to  be  turned  fix)m 
the  cart,  a  gentleman  called  out  unto  him,  and  asked  for 
what  religion  he  died.  'No  more  of  that,'  said  Topcliffe, 
'  he  dieth  for  treason,  and  not  for  religion ;  *  and  so  willed 
the  cart  to  be  drawn  away :  he  was  forthwith  cut  down, 
dismembered,  bowelled,  and  quartered;  and  commandment 
given  that  the  blood  should  be  clean  dried  up,  that  no 
Catholics  might  remain.  And  thus  he  happily,  with  greKk 
fortitude,  obtained  his  crown  of  martyrdom. 

"  Mr.  Henry  Dunn,  in  whose  chamber  he  was  taken,  was 
committed  to  the  Clink,  where  he  persevered  very  constantly. 
His  father  in  his  lifetime  had  given  to  the  Chamber  of  London 
a  certain  sum  of  money,  for  which  they  were  to  pay  to  his 


BTOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OP   THB   CLEROT.  823 

son  at  twenty-one  years  of  Us  age  £500^  if  lie  lived  so  long. 
Being  now  near  twenty-one  years  old^  he  was  this  last  sum- 
mer (the  plague  being  then  in  Newgate)  removed  from  the 
Clink  thither,  and  within  a  few  days  after  he  there  sickened 
and  thereof  died ;  in  all  likelihood  his  remove  contrived  of 
purpose,  by  that  means  so  to  make  him  away,  to  defeat  him 
of  his  money. 

**  It  is  verily  reported,  that  seven  of  the  felons  were  recon« 
ciled  by  Mr.  Harrington  the  night  before  his  execution; 
most  certain  it  is,  that  some  of  them  protested  they  would 
die  of  his  faith,  refusing  to  pray  with  the  ministers.^' 

Harrison,  Augx7stin,  O.S.B. — ^This  excellent  scholar  for 
a  time  had  rendered  his  valuable  assistance  at  Beckford  and 
Spetisbury.  His  death  occurred  on  6th  March,  1846,  set. 
seventy-four,  rd.  fifty-five. 

Hart,  William. — ^This  young  and  accomplished  minister 
was  bom  at  Wells,  in  co.  Somerset ;  after  studying  at  Douay, 
Rheims,  and  Rome,  he  was  sent  to  the  mission,  but  was  very 
soon  arrested  at  York,  at  Christmas  time,  1582,  and  on  15th 
March  following  was  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  for  his 
priestly  character.  The  reader  will  be  charmed  and  edified 
with  lus  memoir  in  Bishop  Challoner's  Report  of  Missionary 
Priests.     He  was  but  twenty-five  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Hartley,  Peter. — I  have  had  occasion  to  speak  of  this 
exemplary  and  zealous  priest  under  Weymouth  and  Gloucester, 
in  the  First  Part  of  these  gleanings.  He  was  bom  at  Bamley 
on  28th  June,  1792,  and  finished  his  education  at  St. 
Edmund's  College.  He  was  first  appointed  to  Chepstow 
mission,  but  was  transferred  in  1823  to  Falmouth,  vice 
(yMeally,  where  he  served  until  March,  1827,  when  obedience 
conducted  him  to  Poole ;  but  in  July  the  same  year  he  was 
selected  as  the  first  incumbent  of  Tawstock.  On  20th 
November,  1829,  he  was  ordered  to  Weymouth ;  and  to  him 
religion  is  indebted  for  the  purchase  of  the  present  site,  on 
which  he  erected  the  present  Presbytere  and  St.  Augustine's 
Chapel,  opened  on  22nd  October,  1835.  Having  achieved 
this  great  work  with  indefatigable  energy  of  mind  and  body, 
he  required  relaxation,  and  was  replaced  at  Chepstow.  The 
last  six  years  and  a  half  of  his  valuable  life  were  passed  at 
Gloucester,  where  he  caught  a  contagious  fever  in  visiting 
the  sick,  and  thus  fell  a  victim  of  charity  on  3rd  August, 
1847,  aged  fifty-five. 

Haskey,  Richard,  S.J.,  brother  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  and 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Reeve,  of  the  pame  order.     He  is  con- 

Y  2 


324  DIOGRA^niCAL    LIST  OF   THE   CLERGT. 

nected  with  the  West  by  having  served  both  Salisbury  and 
Lullworth^  amidst  a  variety  of  places  elsewhere.  This  original 
character,  but  honest-hearted  Englishman,  finished  his  days 
at  Stonyhurst  on  31st  May,  1816,  set.  seventy-six,  soe.  fifty- 
nine. 

Havers,  Bobert,  S.J.,  bom  at  Thetton  Hall,  Norfolk, 
16th  August,  1813 ;  studied  at  Stonyhurst ;  joined  the  Society 
26th  March,  1829.  For  many  yejirs  he  was  one  of  the 
assistant  priests  at  Preston ;  but  after  finishing  his  tertian- 
ship,  was  appointed,  in  1851,  to  the  Shepton  Mallett  mission, 
and  on  the  retirement  of  Father  Moutardier  from  Lnllwortb, 
in  May,  1854,  succeeded  to  its  duties. 

Hatman,  alias  Pearse,  Richard,  S.  J.,  who  sometimes  used 
the  Christian  names  of  Edward  and  John  on  the  mission, 
entered  the  novitiate  in  1687,  and  was  enrolled  amongst  the 
professed  fathers  7th  July,  1705.  During  his  very  long 
missionary  life  he  resided  either  at  Trevithick  or  Tolfrey,  near 
Fawey.  In  the  last-mentioned  place  be  finished  his  mortal 
course,  as  one  who  knew  him  informed  me.  This  event 
occurred  on  30th  April,  1756,  ffit.  eighty-seven. 

Hawkins  (Andrew),  Francis,  bom  30th  November,  1795, 
entered  St.  Susan's  Monastery  of  La  Trappe,  at  LuUwortfa, 
13th  September,  1808;  emigrated  with  the  community,  in 
the  summer  of  1817,  to  Meilleray,  near  Nantes,  where  he 
was  professed  on  11th  July,  1819;  was  ordained  priest  in 
that  city  21st  December,  1822.  To  the  venerable  Abbot 
Pere  Antoine  he  was  an  invaluable  assistant  until  the  bar- 
barous expulsion  of  the  British  membere  of  the  monastery 
in  November,  1831.  After  spending  some  years  with  his 
brethren  at  home,  he  was  appointed  coadjutor  to  Fere  Palemon 
at  Stapchill,  in  1840.  By  his  active  exertions,  he  witnessed 
the  laying  of  the  foundation-stone  of  the  new  church  of  our 
Lady  of  Dolors,  on  25th  May,  1847,  and  its  solemn  opening 
on  16th  July,  1851.  To  his  office  of  director  to  this  flourish- 
ing community  of  Trappist  nuns,  he  has  annexed  the  charge 
of  a  congregation  of  nearly  20O  souls.  He  has  recently 
added  to  his  church  a  noble  bell  of  1,150  lbs.  weight,  blessed 
by  Dr.  Vaughan,  Bishop  of  Plymouth,  29th  January,  1856. 

Hawkins,  James,  O.S.B.,  bom  in  Gloucestershire,  professed 
at  Lambspring  15th  January,  1705.    Obiit  30th  June,  1752. 

Hawkins,  James  (Euoenixjs),  bom  23rd  July,  1797; 
entered  the  monastery  at  LuUworth  on  24th  March,  1818 ; 
was  professed  with  his  brother  Andrew  at  Meilleray  on  11th 
July,   1819,   and  was  ordained  priest  with  him  on  2l6t 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THB    CLERGY.  325 

December^  1822.  When  he  was  torn  from  his  dear  com- 
munity and  good  abbot^  in  November^  1831^  he  settled  at 
Naotes^  and  has  ever  since  been  attached  to  the  church  of 
St.  Croix  in  that  city,  with  the  full  approbation  of  the  bishop. 

Hawkins^  Francis  (Stephen),  was  uncle  to  FF.  Francis 
and  James  aforesaid.  He  had  entered  the  Cistercian 
Monastery  at  LuUworth  as  early  as  1794<,  and  received  the 
order  of  deacon,  but  his  humility  kept  him  from  accepting 
priesthood.  In  March,  1856,  aged  eighty-nine,  he  departed 
to  our  Lord  in  St.  Bernard's  Abbey,  Loughtoiu 

Heatley,  Hugh,  O.S.B. — This  devout  religious,  after 
edifying  Bath  by  his  apostolic  zeal  for  five  years,  fell  a  victim 
of  typhus  fever  on  28th  April,  1792,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-three. 

Hemerford,  Thomas,  a  native  of  Dorset.  From  con- 
scientious motives  he  quitted  Hart's  Hall,  in  the  University 
of  Oxford,  to  proceed  to  Rheims  College.  Its  president. 
Dr.  Allen,  in  a  letter  to  F.  Agazzari,  S.J.  (3rd  August,  1580), 
then  recently  appointed  rector  of  the  English  College  at 
Rome,  introduces  Mr.  Hemerford  to  his  notice  as  "Vir 
honestissimus,''  and  mentions  that  he  had  started  two  days 
before  for  the  Eternal  City,  and  was  preparing  himself  for 
entering  into  the  Society  of  Jesus.  He  Vas  admitted  into 
the  English  College  at  Rome  on  9th  October  that  year,  and 
in  March,  1583,  was  ordained  priest  by  Dr.  Thomas  Goldwell, 
Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  exiled  by  Queen  Elizabeth.  In  April 
he  left  Rome  for  England.  Shortly  after  landing  in  his 
native  country  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  persecutors,  was 
sentenced  to  death  on  5th  of  the  following  February,  then 
thrown  into  the  pit  of  Newgate,  and  loaded  with  irons  for  six 
days  before  his  execution.  On  the  12th  of  February,  1584, 
he  was  hauled  out  to  be  dragged  to  Tyburn,  where  he  was 
literally  butchered  alive,  says  F.  Warford,  who  adds,  that  he 
was  remarkable  for  his  love  of  virginal  purity,  and  severe  to 
himself  in  this  point;  of  moderate  stature,  a  blackish  beard, 
stern  countenance,  and  yet  of  a  playful  temper,  most  amiable 
in  conversation,  and  in  every  respect  exemplary. 

Hendren,  Joseph  William,  O.S.F.,  D.D.,  and  Right  Rev. 
— Of  this  learned  Franciscan,  illustrious  prelate,  and  most 
amiable  firiend,  I  can  hardly  trust  myself  to  write. 

He  was  bom  in  Birmingham  on  19th  October,  1791,  and 
baptized  by  the  Rev.  Padficus  Nutt,  the  venerable  Franciscan 
missioner  of  that  town.  On  2nd  August,  1806,  he  received 
the  Franciscan  habit  from  F.  Grafton,  and  made  his  profes* 


326  BIOOBAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY. 

sion  19th  November,  1807,  on  which  occasion  the  late  pro-* 
vincial,  but  then  Bishop  CoUingridge  (consecrated  Bishop  of 
Thespise  on  11th  October  that  year),  assisted  and  preached. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  following  summer,  his  lordship  con- 
ferred upon  him  minor  orders  at  Abergavenny.  On  15th 
October,  1808,  the  novitiate  was  removed  to  Perthyre.  Four 
years  later  brother  Hendren  was  sent  to  Baddesley  School  to 
teaoh  Latin,  Greek,  mathematics,  &c. ;  and  whilst  so  engaged 
was  ordained  subdeacon  by  the  illustrious  Bishop  Milner, 
at  Wolverhampton,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1814  (on  the  very 
day  that  the  learned  Dr.  Weedall  was  made  priest),  deacon 
on  the  26th,  and  priest  on  the  28th  September,  1815.  In 
the  January  following  he  was  sent  to  Perthyre  to  teach 
philosophy  and  divinity ;  and  when  the  small  community  was 
transferred  to  Aston,  in  October,  1818,  he  was  continued  in 
the  same  employment  until  the  commencement  of  1823, 
when  the  unfortunate  determination  of  ceasing  to  attempt 
the  education  of  Franciscans  in  England  was  t^en.  I  may 
mention  by  the  way,  that  my  reverend  friend,  whilst  at 
Perthyre  had  to  serve  the  congregation  at  Courtfield,  a 
distance  of  eleven  miles,  once  a  fortnight,  during  the  absence 
of  the  Yaughan  family  on  the  Continent;  and  whilst  at 
Aston  did  duty  at  Swynnerton  every  Sunday  and  holiday, 
from  16th  July,  1820,  until  the  end  of  April,  1823,  when  he 
was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  Baddesley  Academy.  His 
services  were  then  required  for  the  mission  of  Abergavenny 
in  the  beginning  of  1826,  and  there  he  was  suffered  to  remain 
for  thirteen  years,  when  he  was  appointed  confessor  to  the 
nuns  and  pensioners  of  Taunton,  and  arrived  at  his  destina- 
tion on  9th  February,  1839.  There  I  had  the  honour  of 
forming  the  acquaintance  of  this  very  learned  and  agreeable 
friend,  whom  to  know  is  to  admire  and  love.  In  January, 
1847,  Bishop  XJUathorne,  V.A.  of  the  Western  District, 
appreciating  the  treasure  he  possessed  in  this  learned  and 
experienced  theologian,  selected'  him  for  his  grand  vicar,  and 
obtained  him  for  his  successor,  as  Bishop  of  Uranopol^,  by 
Bulls  bearing  date  30th  July,  1848.  To  this  see  he  was 
consecrated  10th  September  that  year;  for  Dr.  XJUathorne 
had  been  translated  to  Birmingham.  At  the  restoration  of 
the  hierarchy.  Bishop  Hendren  was  declared  Bishop  of  the 
new  see  of  Clifton,  on  29th  September,  1850.  This  he  held 
until  22nd  June,  1851,  when  he  was  translated  to  Notting- 
ham ;  and  on  2nd  February,  1853,  he  resigned  that  appoint- 
ment, accepting  the  see  of  Martyropolis  inpartihu  infidelnm. 
Since  2nd  May,  1853,  he  has  been  residing  in  his  native 
town,  to  which  he  is  an  ornament.     Since  his  first  appoint-* 


BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST  OF   THE   CLERGY.  327 

ment  to  the  post  of  grand  vicar,  in  January,  1847>  his  health 
has  been  much  impaired.  Wishing  him  health  and  every 
blessing,  I  can  only  add  at  present, — 

^  LauB  illi  debetar,  et  a  me  gratia  major.'* 

Herict,  Gabriel  Francois. — ^This  edifying  French  priest 
and  father  of  the  poor  was  the  pastor  of  Tor  Abbey,  as  I 
well  remember,  from  2nd  June,  1808,  imtil  June,  1816,  when 
he  quitted  for  his  native  country.  Shortly  after  his  arrival 
he  was  appointed  Cure  de  Sully,  near  Bayeux.  After  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  a  parish  priest  for  many  years  in  the 
most  exemplary  manner,  ''  ce  vieillard  infiniment  respect- 
able," as  Monsieur  Guerin  described  him  in  a  letter,  dated 
Bayeux,  8rd  August,  1842,  retired  into  that  city,  where  he 
breathed  his  last  25th  November,  1844,  aged  eighty-seven. 

HiGGS,  . — ^All  that  I  could  recover  firom  the  late  Mr. 

Taunton  was,  that  he  was  the  predecessor  of  F.  William 
Byfleet,  alias  Gildon  (before  the  Revolution),  in  the  Chidiock 
mission,  and  that  he  was  a  man  of  unbending  resolution. 

Hill,  alias  Turner,  Robert. — He  was  a  member  of  the 
respectable  family  of  the  Hills  of  Shilston,  near  Madbury,  and 
a  secular  priest.  He  was  living  in  1695,  and  was  intimate  at 
Tor  Abbey. 

Hodgson  (Maurus),  Nicholas,  O.S.B.,  born  at  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne  9th  August,  1815.  After  studying  at  Ushaw  for 
four  years,  he  repaired  to  Downside  in  November,  1830,  where 
he  was  professed  24th  June,  1834,  and  ordained  priest  on 
8th  November,  1840,  by  Dr.  Brown,  who  had  been  consecrated 
bishop  of  Wales  within  the  preceding  fortnight.  This  able 
religious,  who  had  filled  many  collegiate  offices  with  the 
highest  credit,  was  elected  prior  of  St.  Gregory's  at  the 
general  chapter  held  at  Downside  in  July,  1850;  but  his 
humility  declined  the  profiered  honour.  He  was  appointed 
to  the  Bath  mission  in  October,  1850 ;  but  this  he  quitted, 
to  the  regret  of  many,  five  years  later,  for  St.  Mary's,  Studley, 
CO.  Warwick. 

HoGAN,  Patrick  Andrew,  bom  at  Limerick  28th  Feb- 
ruary, 1810;  educated  at  Maynooth;  became  chaplain  at 
Upton  1st  June,  1836,  where  he  continued  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  following  year.  On  11th  February,  1837,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  charge  of  FoUaton,  which  he  sustained 
for  about  eighteen  months.  Then,  after  rendering  occasional 
service  to  some  other  missions,  he  sailed  from  Plymouth 
for  Sidney,  at  the  end  of  November,  1840,  with  330  Irish 
emigrants  under  his  care. 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL   LIST   OF   THE    C